“This can’t be!” said Joan Laporta, in Montilivi. Indignant. Without hiding. Girona’s comeback in just ten minutes against a Barcelona team that dominated the game but dissolved like a sugar in the final stretch, got the always emotional president of Barcelona mad.
Montilivi is a small and humble municipal stadium built in 1979. 14,000 people can fit in part thanks to the extra stands that are supported by orthodox iron structures and, of course, far from the aesthetics of the great European teams that Girona will face next year in the Champions League. The accesses are also very practical. Small and unidirectional so it is easy to measure the mood of those who win and those who lose.
On the winning side were Girona’s sports director, Quique Cárcel, accompanied by Pere Guardiola, president of the Girona board of directors. Happy. Euphoric. “We are in Europe. In the Champions League. We didn’t see it coming at the beginning of the course. I won’t forget this,” said Cárcel, the shadow architect of a Girona team that, with a budget of 59 million, is not among the top ten in the League. Cárcel’s nose also chose a coach, Míchel, who was offered a renewal the year in which returning to the First Division was an absolute chimera.
When the lights went off, more than one Girona player dressed in their commemorative shirts to celebrate being in the Champions League, stepped onto the grass to take photos and videos. They even made a video call.
They did not lack reasons. Three years later, with an excellent game developed by young players from whom Míchel has gotten the most out of them, Girona is second with four games to go and will be safe in the Champions League next year. “This is a wonderful project with players who want to grow. We have gone from the Second Division to the Champions League in three years,” Míchel said. The coach gave the team a party yesterday. But today they will train again. They don’t want second place to slip away.
Míchel has another wish for next year. He wants to play against Liverpool at Anfield and host Bayern or Inter at Montilivi. Or wherever. Because Girona already knows that UEFA does not allow them to use the extra stands, so Montilivi could only accommodate 9,000 people. “I hope something historic appears. I ask to go to Anfield and for Inter to come,” Míchel said, laughing.
At Barça, however, everything was long faces. After the game, Laporta met in a mini conclave with sports director Deco, vice president Rafa Yuste, his right-hand man Alejandro Echevarría and Enric Masip, one of his advisors. The latter was always one of the most critical of the continuity of Xavi Hernández at the head of the bench. And he seemed especially indignant. But in this Barça everything is emotional. And although the day after was hard, no one told Xavi Hernández anything related to his future. In fact, they told the coach that the most important thing now was to regain calm and integrity. Finish the season and focus on the transfer market.
Xavi and his coaching staff are determined to continue. The staff understands that Barça’s 65 good minutes in Montilivi and the collapse that followed is part of the growth process. The journey back to Barcelona by coach was rather silent.
However, yesterday Xavi raised his voice. He reminded his players that there are four games left. Four finals against Real Sociedad, Almería, Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla. It is essential to win them to try to climb to second position. Going to Saudi Arabia to play the Super Cup implies, to begin with, 10 million euros of income. There is a million more for the finalist and the winner takes 2 million more.
Yesterday in the recovery session the squad was affected. Especially Sergi Roberto and Araújo. Also the young people. “We make too many mistakes,” Xavi told them. It’s time to come back. Emotionally and football-wise. They will do it together. To start, today they had a party. Xavi said no way. There is no party if you lose.
