The small city comprising a mere 160,000 individuals boasts a football team which sits at the pinnacle of Spanish football headed into the international break, with a more potent attack than the spearheads of the footballing empire in Spain, the ‘Blanquivermells’ (White and Reds) success is no chance, and it may lead to the clubs first La Liga title in their 93-year history.
Sávio, Girona’s 19-year-old left-winger gave the league leaders their fifth successive league win at Rayo Vallecano last Saturday, prior to the domestic football interlude, it was Sávio’s eighth goal contribution in 13 appearances this season – he aptly illustrates the dynamism of this young, exciting team.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe quintet of wins followed Girona’s first defeat of the season, to Real Madrid; a shy 35 La Liga titles separate the two clubs. Many thought after Los Galácticos had halted Girona’s unbeaten, fairytale start to the season, that the Catalan side would peter off; the 0-3 loss at home to Madrid was the first game in which Girona had faced one of the giants of Spanish football.
But yet – which seems to be a prevalent phrase following along with this marvellous story – Michel, Girona’s head coach, guided his team to five straight victories, now possessing more points (31) than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues.
“We have bigger goals now. We can dream,” said Aleix Garcia, Girona’s midfielder, following their most recent win at Vallecano. Garcia, who was called up to the Spanish national squad for the first time last week, has been a staple of the clubs’ meteoric rise, making 72 appearances since signing for Blanquivermells in 2021, when the team were playing in the second tier of Spanish football.
The Catalonian-born midfielder’s journey with the club renders his optimistic mindset towards how successful the team can be – he has seen, first-hand, the club grow from a 6th placed Segunda Division outfit to the most in-form team in Europe.
Top in Spain, top in England
To find some of the roots of Girona’s recent success, we have to dig a little further back in time. Some six years ago, Girona was one of the first clubs to be welcomed into the global Manchester City Football Group (CFG) network, since then, it is evident they have enjoyed the benefits of being owned by one of Europe’s elite.
There is also a more familial connection between England and Spain’s league leaders, Girona’s executive president is Pere Guardiola, Pep’s brother. A key cog in City’s recent dominance within English football has been a near flawless recruitment system, their five titles since 2017 have seen a churn of players come in and out, but a level maintained, or perhaps bettered, year on year.
Since spreading its portfolio to Northern Catalonia, CFG has enjoyed continued success within recruitment departments. Girona’s top scorer last season, Taty Castellanos, spent the season on loan from New York City FC, another CFG club, the forward was sold to Lazio in the summer for €20m. The CFG contingent spreads elsewhere in the current XI, with the aforementioned Savio, on loan from CFG-owned Troyes, as well as his counterpart on the right wing, Yan Couto on loan from City.
Ecuador international, Yangel Herrera, who has impressed in midfield this campaign, was signed from City in the summer after spending 2022/23 on loan. Herrera’s midfield partner, Garcia, who has captained and played in every minute of the season, made nine appearances for City’s first team between 2015 and 2017, before returning to his birthplace Catalonia.
Years in the making
It would, however, be disrespectful to put the clubs’ success solely down to their recent ownership change. The club’s president, Delfí Geli stood side by side with sporting director Quique Cárcel, since 2015, prior to CFG, who has worked through promotion, relegation and promotion again. No individual who has come, or gone, since the takeover has a stronger affiliation to the club than Geli, who started and finished his playing career in Girona, before returning to the club in 2015.
Cárcel, another Catalan, who spent his formative years in Barcelona’s youth ranks, has particularly impressed this season, earning an improved contract until 2027, as demands for competent sporting directors across Europe increase year on year.
Cárcels strengths are said to include his ability to spot, and acquire talent from near and afar, some notable signings of his include veteran Daley Blind, who has featured regularly this season at the back alongside Eric Garcia – another ex-Manchester City player, who was acquired on loan from Barcelona. At the other end of the pitch, two of Cárcel’s finest additions have come from Ukraine, with the dynamic attacking midfielder, Viktor Tsygankov, impressing greatly since arriving in Spain last January.
Now able to link up with his Ukrainian compatriot, Tsygankov has played behind Artem Dovbyk for much of the campaign, who arrived from Dnipro-1 in the summer. Dovbyk’s contribution to the team has been palpable, topping La Liga charts for goals (seven) and assists (four) per 90 minutes.
However for all of Girona’s shrewd recruitment, one thing strikes you as you watch this fearless outfit – they are unbelievably willing to attack, which, in today’s game of micro-management and safety, is refreshing to watch. Nothing paints the picture better than their 2-4 win at Osasuna two game-weeks ago, where, after coming from 2-1 down to lead 2-3, Michel called upon two forwards to sure the game up from the subs bench, one of whom, Portu, supplied a cross for Garcia to volley in the sides fourth goal. “This is a team that knows it goes forward,” said the Girona head coach after the match. Such a decision to bring two attacking players on in that scenario is alien in the modern game, but this Girona side is just very good at football, and that is, in large part down to the man making these weird and wonderful decisions on the touchlines, Michel.
Embed from Getty ImagesNow reportedly being courted by Europe’s elite, Michel’s story to the top of the game has grown in unison with the club he manages. His first season at Girona was their promotion season from the Segunda Division, where they’d gain La Liga status via the play-offs, after finishing 6th. The first season back in La Liga resulted in an admirable 10th-place finish, a fine feat for a newly promoted side, but nothing to draw too much attention.
However, after breaking some astounding records this season, one of which managing the first team not named Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid to pick up 25 points after the first 10 games of the season, Michel is now the talk of the continent, and for good reason. When you watch how ferociously his side attack, it begs a positive answer to the question – can Girona actually win La Liga?
The front three fielded from the start in their last match at Estadio de Vallecas have a combined valuation which is € 46 million less* than what Real Madrid paid for Jude Bellingham alone this summer. The English midfielders’ current manager, Carlo Ancelotti, spoke glowingly of his fiercest competitors, “I have no doubt that this is a team capable of fighting for the La Liga championship” he stated earlier this month. Michel’s side’s xG stands as one of the highest in Europe, only bettered in Spain by Xavi’s Barcelona, who sit four points off Blanquivermells.
The team can score goals, that’s a sure thing, but perhaps their biggest threat to falling away is their defensive fragility. Having conceded more goals than all three of Barca, Real and Atletico, if anything spoils the fairytale, it’ll be the goals shipped. Michel, clearly not blind to his side’s shortcomings, stated “I’m not worried about the attacking phase of the game, as we can cause problems for any opponents” following his side’s 5-2 win against Almeria, with a clear emphasis on where the teams strengths and weaknesses lie.
Perhaps the most critical argument when looking at Girona’s chances, is the lack of European football, something their counterparts do not enjoy. Real Madrid sit top of their Champions League group by five points, with a place in the last 16 already secured. Barcelona, who have this week seen their midfielder Gavi be ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury picked up on international duty, currently sit 2nd in their Champions League group, on goal difference, with two favourable ties remaining in the group phase.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid sit top of their group, having beaten Celtic 6-0 in their last outing. Looking beyond the fine football Michel’s side play, the circumstances of other clubs also weigh in their favour.
It is only November, and you can be assured that those around the club are keeping their feet on the ground regarding their chances of actually delivering a first La Liga to the quaint city of Girona. But, as each win ticks by, Girona fans may begin to start dreaming beyond Champions League football at the Estadi Montvilli next campaign – and rightfully so.
