Michel's classy apology defuses Girona-Osasuna bust-up after Lass red card
Girona manager shows pure class by apologizing for Lass N'Diaye's behavior that sparked a 95th-minute melee in heated La Liga clash with Osasuna.
Tempers flared at Montilivi as a heated La Liga clash between Girona and Osasuna ended in chaotic scenes with both benches storming the pitch after a late red card incident.
Last-gasp drama boils over
The match descended into madness in the 95th minute when Girona substitute Lass N’Diaye was sent off following an altercation with Osasuna’s Aimar Oroz. What began as a typical late-game confrontation quickly escalated, with players and staff from both technical areas rushing onto the pitch in a proper dust-up.
Four Osasuna players - Aimar Oroz, goalkeepers Aitor Fernández and Sergio Herrera, plus Kike Barja after the final whistle - all saw yellow cards during the fracas before officials eventually restored order.
Michel’s honest admission
Rather than defend his player, Girona boss Michel showed tremendous class in his post-match comments, taking full responsibility for his player’s actions:
“I want to apologize because Lass’s action doesn’t fit our parameters,” Michel admitted, in a refreshingly honest moment that you don’t see every day in the dog-eat-dog world of Spanish football.
The gaffer went even further in his press conference, explaining:
“We’re not a team that does these kinds of things. There’s no justification for what he did, even though they grabbed him twice. He’s a young player with good energy, but today he couldn’t control it. It’s particularly disappointing because with Witsel and Solís unavailable, this was an opportunity for him. We feel bad about the image we’ve presented, and he’s sorry because he knows he messed up.”
Opportunity missed for young Lass
The red card is particularly frustrating as N’Diaye had only entered the pitch in the 80th minute, replacing Hugo Rincón. Now facing a potential multi-game suspension, the young midfielder has thrown away a golden chance to establish himself in Michel’s plans during a period when Girona are short-staffed in midfield.
Michel’s apology speaks volumes about the culture he’s building at Girona - one where accountability matters more than blind loyalty. Even in the heat of battle, the Catalan club’s manager showed why he’s one of the most respected gaffers in Spain right now.