Míchel Sánchez’s Girona, one step away from qualifying for the Conference League

2023-06-03 20:00:18

GIRONAAt six in the morning this Sunday, the Girona fans are summoned to the esplanade of Montilivi, heading to Pamplona, ​​to experience an unprecedented chapter in the history of the white-and-red club: the possibility of participating in a European competition next season. For this beautiful and unexpected dream to become a reality, two results must be achieved, for Míchel’s team to win at Osasuna (6:30 p.m., DAZN) and for Athletic not to win at the Santiago Bernabéu. Right now, both take a point away from the Catalan team, who if they add up the three points will also achieve their scoring record in the same season in Primera.

“It will be a final, of course. We came alive in the last game and we travel with all the confidence in the world to reach the qualification for the Conference League. We could say that Osasuna are favourites, but there will be many factors to consider, like the nerves. What I can assure is that the dressing room is ready to win at El Sadar. And that’s what we want, to win; hoping that Madrid hasn’t gone on vacation,” says Aleix Garcia, expressing the desire for a squad that has had an enormous season and that reaches the last day recovering Iván Martín and Rodrigo Riquelme, and convinced that the path chosen is the right one. More than half a thousand people from Girona will accompany them, traveling by road the 550 kilometers that separate the two stadiums, united by the hope of hearing the UEFA anthem.

For those who believe in the stars, in addition, there are two anniversaries that make the date special, because it is the sixth anniversary of the first promotion in the history of Girona to Primera, in June 2017, and on Monday it will be 365 days since the Girona team beat Ipurua in the semi-final of play-off against Eibar, with a 0-2 before Tenerife’s promotion. In fact, social media has fueled the label The miracle of Pamplonaalluding to The miracle of Eibar, popular for fans at the time. Everything goes to feed the belief that it will be a good day.

“Montilivi is the most comfortable place I’ve ever been”

And when everything is going well, you know that good news also accumulates. Like the laughs. Girona, in a decision taken from common sense, did not want to wait to find out if the League will finish in seventh place, and this week they renewed Míchel until 2026. Because the season is already a great success, no matter how it ends. The Madrid coach has received proposals from other Primera Division teams, such as the interest of Villarreal, but he believes that “Montilivi is the place where I am most comfortable.” “He is a person who has been involved in the club and with the city. We are very happy to have him”, confesses the president, Delfí Geli.

“It’s brutal, we’ve exceeded any of the expectations I could have imagined. Míchel has brilliant human conditions, you just have to see how people love him,” adds Quique Cárcel, a man who these days is happy. “We have a very clear project, which involves growing,” summarizes Míchel, who continues: “We must consolidate the club in Primera, that is the most important thing. And take steps forward, which we are taking. Everyone trusts me, I can’t ask for nothing more. Because when things weren’t going well that’s when they trusted it the most.” With ninety minutes left for a possible European qualification, Girona’s ceiling is unlimited.