Míchel buzzing after 'most complete' Girona performance of the season
Girona boss heaps praise on his squad following crucial 1-2 away win at Mallorca that lifts them out of the relegation zone with a performance to remember.
Míchel was absolutely chuffed to bits with Girona’s performance as they secured a vital 1-2 away victory at Mallorca, describing it as their “most complete” display of the season so far.
Complete performance lifts Girona spirits
The gaffer couldn’t hide his delight after watching his team put in a proper shift against a Mallorca side that, on paper, should’ve given them a right old barney. The win was just what the doctor ordered, lifting Girona out of the relegation spots and giving the squad a massive boost in confidence.
“We’ve demonstrated that we can compete, that’s the most important thing,” Míchel beamed post-match, clearly relieved to see his team finally putting together the kind of performance he’s been banging on about for weeks.
What seemed to please the boss most was the all-round nature of the display. Girona showed they could mix it up - playing their usual possession game when possible but also digging in defensively when required. That kind of adaptability has been missing from their arsenal this season.
More than just points
While climbing out of the drop zone is obviously crucial, Míchel was more interested in the manner of the victory rather than its immediate impact on the table:
- The team defended their box with proper determination
- They showed resources both with and without the ball
- The overall image of the team has improved significantly
“Getting out of relegation is good, but we all know we need 42 points,” the Madrid-born manager explained, keeping his feet firmly on the terra firma despite the positive result.
Lemar shines as injury concerns loom
There was special praise reserved for Thomas Lemar, who put in what Míchel described as a “partidazo” (absolute blinder for those not up on their Spanish lingo). The Frenchman has struggled with injuries this term, but his manager made it crystal clear how vital he’ll be for the second half of the campaign.
On a less positive note, there are concerns over Azzedine Ounahi, who appears to have picked up a knock while training with Morocco ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. Míchel admitted he’d only just heard about it through his son’s tweet and would be checking with the club for details.
With one match remaining in the first half of the season, Girona now have a chance to reach the halfway mark to their safety target. If they can reproduce this level of performance consistently, they might just be laughing all the way to La Liga survival.