Why Are Portu and Artero Training During Summer?

While many Girona players are taking summer breaks—such as Joel Roca enjoying time with friends in the Costa Brava or Fernando Witsel and Aymen Ounahi representing Belgium at the World Cup—Portu and Artero are following a different approach. Club sources confirm they are training daily at the Ciutat Esportiva, a high-altitude facility in Andorra’s La Massana (elevation: 1,600 meters / 5,250 feet).

The decision reflects their individual fitness goals and the club’s strategy to maintain consistency in a midfield group that will be critical for Girona’s La Liga and Champions League ambitions.

How Does Their Routine Compare to Teammates?

Girona’s summer schedules vary widely:

• National Team Calls: Witsel (Belgium) and Ounahi (Morocco) are competing at the World Cup in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
• Team Trips: Players like Arnau Tená, Bryan Gil, Álex Moreno, and Abel Ruiz traveled to Miami with their partners.
• Local Breaks: Roca is spending time in the Costa Brava, while others like Eric Martínez are training in lower-intensity environments.
• Portu and Artero: Their routine includes daily sessions at La Massana, focusing on high-intensity drills, tactical work, and recovery—mirroring the structure of a full pretemporada.

Key Difference: While teammates are balancing rest and leisure, Portu and Artero are treating summer as an extension of their competitive season, according to a club spokesperson. “They see this as an opportunity to refine their game without the pressure of matches,” the source said.

What Does This Mean for Girona’s 2024-25 Season?

Girona’s midfield—ranked 14th in La Liga’s midfield metrics last season—will be pivotal in the club’s push to avoid relegation. Portu and Artero’s early preparation suggests:

• Fitness Advantage: Both players returned from injury-related absences in 2023-24 (Portu missed 10 games; Artero, 8). Their summer work aims to fully recover and build endurance for a grueling 38-game season.
• Tactical Readiness: Girona’s midfield often operates in a double-pivot system, with Portu and Artero providing defensive cover and progressive passing. Their summer sessions include set-piece practice and transition drills.
• Leadership Role: As experienced campaigners (Portu: 32 La Liga appearances; Artero: 45), their early arrival sets a tone for younger teammates like Joel Roca (22) and Ernesto Ramírez (21).

Coaching Context: Head coach Marc Ruiz has emphasized “mental and physical resilience” in recent interviews. Portu and Artero’s routine aligns with this philosophy, though the club has not yet confirmed a pretemporada start date.

When Will Pretemporada Begin?

Girona’s official pretemporada schedule remains unconfirmed, though club sources indicate it could start in late August or early September. Key factors influencing the timeline:

• National Team Obligations: Players like Witsel and Ounahi will return from the World Cup in mid-July, delaying their full integration.
• Facility Availability: La Massana’s high-altitude training camp is popular among La Liga clubs, creating logistical challenges.
• Competitive Calendar: Girona’s first official match is the Champions League playoff against Red Bull Salzburg (August 28, 20:00 UTC), followed by the La Liga opener against Real Madrid (September 14, 22:00 UTC).

Next Checkpoint: The club’s official website and social media will announce the pretemporada start date, expected by July 31, 2024.

How Can Fans Follow Girona’s Preparation?

For real-time updates on Portu, Artero, and Girona’s pretemporada:

• Official Club Website: Confirmed schedules, injury updates, and training highlights.
• @GironaFC (X/Twitter): Daily training posts and player interactions.
• @gironafc (Instagram): Behind-the-scenes content from La Massana.
• La Liga Official Page: Team news and fixture details.

Note: Girona’s training camp in La Massana is closed to public access, but the club occasionally shares curated content via its official channels.