Girona host Liverpool within the Champions League on Tuesday understanding the conflict provides an opportunity to put a glove on a prime aspect earlier than their European dream peters out. “We have reached a spot which was a dream for us, a dream that we should all get pleasure from,” mentioned coach Michel Sanchez forward of their debut within the competitors, however the Catalan minnows have shortly been introduced crashing all the way down to earth. Down in thirtieth within the group desk with 4 defeats from their opening 5 video games and one win, it has change into obvious that elite stage European soccer could also be a bridge too far for Girona at current.
With the exception of their slim opening 1-0 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain, the three matches remaining for Girona are arguably their hardest.
After six-time winners Liverpool’s go to they journey to Italy to face AC Milan after which host Arsenal of their final group match.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool prime each the English Premier League and Champions League tables and have overwhelmed English champions Manchester City and Spanish champions Real Madrid in latest weeks. The latter was a fifth Champions League triumph from 5 video games.
Last season Girona ran Madrid shut within the La Liga title race till the ultimate levels of the season once they fell away.
In what was simply their fourth season within the Spanish prime flight, Sanchez’s aspect thrilled with their good soccer and twice beat then title-holders Barcelona.
However, they have been twice crushed by Madrid, 3-0 at residence and 4-0 on the Santiago Bernabeu, in defeats which confirmed they have been struggling to compete in opposition to the cream of the crop, even earlier than extreme summer season gross sales set them again.
Girona misplaced goal man Artem Dovbyk, playmaker Aleix Garcia and winger Savinho amongst different starters, forcing Sanchez to rebuild.
It took time for brand spanking new arrivals together with Bryan Gil, Abel Ruiz, and Donny van de Beek to gel and the staff has additionally suffered vastly with accidents.
Competing on two fronts as an alternative of simply in La Liga has stretched sources, with an entire XI of gamers sidelined a number of weeks in the past.
‘Can’t let these objectives in’
Girona have discovered some type in latest weeks, however it appears sure to be too little, too late to save lots of their Champions League marketing campaign.
A run of 4 matches unbeaten in La Liga was dropped at an finish by Real Madrid on Saturday with a snug 3-0 victory.
“We need to be stronger in each areas… we won’t let in these objectives if we need to compete in opposition to these groups,” mentioned Sanchez.
“I noticed an excellent angle however we have been a bit smooth, with some losses of focus.”
Fans will fill their modest Montilivi stadium for the conflict in opposition to Liverpool which some will view extra as a reward for his or her achievements final season, slightly than as a practical path to the subsequent spherical.
Sanchez insisted his staff will keep focussed on progressing.
“We usually are not out of the Champions League, so we should hold preventing,” mentioned the coach, regardless of their disappointing 1-0 defeat at Sturm Graz in November.
Part of the City Football Group, Girona definitely benefitted from their connections, infrastructure and sources final season, however reaching the Champions League for the primary time of their historical past was nonetheless a outstanding achievement.
Girona reached La Liga for the primary time in 2017 and after relegation in 2019, returned to the highest flight in 2022.
Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and firm’s go to will go away Girona followers with an evening to recollect, no matter whether or not their staff are able to holding essentially the most profitable English aspect within the competitors at bay.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
