After the heavy defeat suffered against FC Barcelona at home, Girona FC has already switched to its “date with history” at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
After a stunning last season marked by a third place in La Liga, has Girona already fallen back to earth? The very heavy defeat suffered against Barça, this Sunday at the Montilivi stadium (1-4), could lead one to think so.
But, with Champions League qualification required, the Catalans in “white-and-red” will not have time to brood as they must already plan for the next match, an XXL clash this Wednesday at the Parc des Princes against PSG (9 p.m.).
A PSG which, like Barça, is marching on its championship with 5 victories in 5 matches. Suffice to say that Girona, which had beaten Barça twice last season to invite itself among the greats, will quickly be determined on its current level.
For coach Michel, things are clear after the correction suffered on Sunday. “Barça showed us that we were far from their level”. A bit like during the 2nd day on the ground of Atlético de Madrid, the other defeat of the Gironins this season where they had taken a lesson in realism (3-0).
However, after two consecutive successes, Girona wanted to exist against its illustrious neighbor who is unrolling at the start of the season, awakening the appetite of the “culers”. “We didn't do things well”, deplored Sanchez, for his part, in a press conference on Sunday. And in Michel's sights the positioning of his players “under pressure” with, in particular, the 3rd and 4th goals scored by Dani Olmo and Pedri “on actions that were nevertheless studied”.
“Compete no matter what”
“Neither better nor worse, but different.” This is how Michel defines his team this season, which is clearly more in the running-in phase than last season at the same time. But the deadlines are jostling and Girona has already switched to Paris.
“I don't think this defeat affects my players, talented and mature footballers who believe in their possibilities,” assured Michel. The same goes for Cristhian Stuani, the captain. “We have to forget this very quickly because we have a very special match and we have to face it with the greatest enthusiasm. It's historic and we have to compete no matter what,” said the Uruguayan after the rout against Barça.
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