Michel: Girona can light up LaLiga once again

By Sports Desk August 14, 2024

Michel is optimistic about Girona's chances of extending last season's remarkable LaLiga run into their 2024-25 campaign, which begins at Real Betis on Thursday.

After a third-place finish in the standings, their best ever, Girona secured a place in the Champions League for their first taste of European competition.

Though Girona may have lost the element of surprise, Michel is confident the club will continue their upward trajectory.

"I don't have a crystal ball to know where we will sit in the end [of the season], but I'm convinced that, with collective thinking in defence and attack, we will have a great season," Michel told a press conference on Wednesday.

"The objective is the club's growth and to always honour their colours. All the players who are here must be players who have that feeling and understanding, that playing here is a source of pride and that they are doing it for our people. That is the objective we have as a club: growth, growth and growth."

The Spaniard added that he still expects new signings to arrive before the summer transfer window closes at the end of August.

Michel, whose project was constructed around a youthful squad with an attacking style, has lost several of his key players in the transfer window so far, including winger Savinho, who moved to Manchester City.

Meanwhile, striker Artem Dovbyk, who scored 24 league goals last season, left for Serie A side Roma and versatile midfielder Aleix Garcia was signed by Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

To make things worse ahead of a difficult clash at Manuel Pellegrini's Betis, he will be missing at least three players due to illness.

"The sports management and I have the same way of seeing things," Michel added. 

"It is true that the process has been complicated and difficult because important players have left. We had problems during the offseason and now with this virus, but I am convinced that we will make the best possible squad."

Related items

  • Shaqiri leaves Chicago Fire 'to explore new opportunities' Shaqiri leaves Chicago Fire 'to explore new opportunities'

    Xherdan Shaqiri has agreed to leave the Chicago Fire two and a half years on from his record-breaking transfer to the MLS club.

    Former Bayern Munich, Inter and Liverpool winger Shaqiri joined the Fire from Lyon in February 2022 in a reported $7.5million deal, then a club record fee.

    Shaqiri, who won the Champions League at both Bayern and Liverpool, scored 14 goals in 69 regular-season matches for Chicago.

    However, the 32-year-old had not played for the club since May due to appearing for Switzerland at Euro 2024. He subsequently retired from international football.

    Shaqiri does not appear ready to quit the club game, though, explaining this mutual agreement served to further his career elsewhere.

    "I believe this is the right time for me to explore new opportunities in my career," he said in a statement.

    "I want to thank the club and the fans for their support during my time in Chicago. I wish the Fire nothing but success moving forward."

  • Fernandes signs new Man Utd contract with 'best moments still to come' Fernandes signs new Man Utd contract with 'best moments still to come'

    Bruno Fernandes has signed a new Manchester United contract and believes his "best moments" for the Premier League giants are "still to come".

    Fernandes joined United from Sporting CP in January 2020 for an initial fee of around £47million (€55m) and was an instant hit at Old Trafford.

    The Portugal international scored 12 goals from midfield in that first COVID-hit campaign under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before netting 28 across all competitions in his first full season in England.

    Fernandes has gone on to tally 79 goals in 234 games for United, contributing 67 assists while creating more chances in the Premier League than any other player since his signing in 2020.

    Having helped United to win the EFL Cup and return to the Champions League in 2022-23, Fernandes was named captain by Erik ten Hag at the start of last season.

    It proved a difficult campaign for the Red Devils but ended with Fernandes in inspired form as his side beat rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final, securing silverware and European football once again.

    Now, on the eve of a new Premier League season, Fernandes has committed his future to United, agreeing a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2027 with the option of a further year.

    It has been reported the new terms will bring his salary in line with United's top earners.

    Fernandes' performances have more than justified that status, yet he is confident United fans will see even more from both he and the team in the coming years.

    "Everybody knows the passion I have for Manchester United," Fernandes told the club's media channels.

    "I understand the responsibility and significance of wearing this shirt and the levels of dedication and desire required to represent this incredible club.

    "I have had so many special moments here already; hearing my name sung from the Stretford End, scoring a hat-trick against Leeds, leading the team out at Old Trafford on European nights and lifting trophies at Wembley.

    "But I wouldn't have signed this contract if I didn't believe that my best moments in a United shirt are still to come.

    "From my discussions with the football leadership and manager, it is clear how determined everyone is to fight for major trophies in the years ahead.

    "I can see how positive the future is going to be, and I am relishing leading this team forward."

  • Raya: Arsenal 'nearly perfect' last season, 'but you have to be perfect' Raya: Arsenal 'nearly perfect' last season, 'but you have to be perfect'

    David Raya believes Arsenal were "nearly perfect" in the Premier League last season but acknowledges that is not enough to beat Manchester City to the title.

    Having finished second the previous year, Mikel Arteta's men improved their points return in 2023-24 but were again runners up to City.

    That was a fourth consecutive title for City, an unprecedented feat in English top-flight history.

    Arsenal are once more targeting top spot in the coming campaign, though, and goalkeeper Raya knows the level they must reach right from the start of the season.

    The Gunners lost four times before the turn of the year last time out, meaning they could not compete with City even while dropping points in only two of the remaining 18 matches.

    "Our second half of last season was nearly perfect," Raya told Sky Sports. "But you have to be perfect to win the league, especially against Man City.

    "They are so good, and they are so experienced in this environment.

    "We have to learn from everything, from every mistake and from the good things that we have done as well, to carry on and improve them. That is what we need to do.

    "It has been a fantastic year, but we have to – and I have to – make the next one better."

    Even with the slightly below bar start to the last campaign, the margins were so fine, with the title race going down to the final day as City pipped Arsenal by two points.

    It is natural then that Raya and his team-mates might reflect on the games in which they slipped up, notably taking only one point from two games against midtable Fulham despite leading in both matches.

    "I think we had a really good campaign, but at some stages we didn't manage the games where we dropped a few points well," the Spain international said.

    "It's that balance of knowing when you have to manage games. Also, you have to go all in, especially at the start of the season."

    Arsenal begin the new season at home to Wolves on Saturday.

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.