Girona chief Cárcel: 'We want Míchel to continue' as contract talks loom
Girona's sporting director Quique Cárcel addresses Míchel's future, transfer window decisions, and the unfortunate Ter Stegen injury situation in candid interview.
Girona’s sporting director has made it crystal clear that keeping manager Míchel at the club beyond this season is a top priority, despite the gaffer’s contract expiring this summer.
Quique Cárcel, the man pulling the strings behind Girona’s recruitment, has been talking all things transfers, managerial futures, and that right nightmare with Ter Stegen’s injury after just two matches in a Girona shirt.
Míchel’s future
With Míchel’s contract running down faster than a greyhound at Walthamstow, Cárcel didn’t beat around the bush about the club’s intentions:
“Míchel knows perfectly well that Girona and Quique Cárcel want him to renew,” the sporting director confirmed. He acknowledged both parties are happy with the relationship, though current focus remains on securing La Liga survival.
The gaffer has steered Girona through choppy waters this term after last season’s Champions League qualification heroics, and the club brass clearly want to keep him in the dugout.
January transfer window explained
Cárcel outlined Girona’s January business strategy, which saw three departures (Livakovic, Solís and Asprilla) matched by three arrivals (Fran Beltrán, Claudio Echeverri and the ill-fated Ter Stegen loan).
The sporting director revealed they considered additional defensive reinforcements but ultimately decided against it due to:
- Budget and salary cap constraints
- Playing only once per week (no European football)
- Having versatile players who can cover multiple positions
“When you don’t have cup matches or midweek fixtures, I don’t believe in large squads,” Cárcel explained. “Everyone needs to feel close to being a starter.”
The Ter Stegen situation
The loan signing of Barcelona’s keeper turned into a proper dog’s dinner when Ter Stegen suffered a serious injury in just his second match for Girona.
Cárcel described the situation as “tough” but clarified that Ter Stegen remains a Girona player despite reports suggesting an immediate return to Barcelona. The club will help with his recovery while focusing on getting current keepers Gazzaniga and Vlad “up to speed.”
Girona are also exploring whether their budget allows for signing an unattached goalkeeper, with Cárcel noting complications around promoting from their B team due to registration rules.
Academy focus
The sporting director also defended the club’s transfer restraint by highlighting the importance of their academy setup: “Nobody talks about the reserve team. Everyone asks for signings, but I think: why do we have this structure? The youth players have the quality to earn places in the first team.”