At the foot of the field, in Montilivi, we are given an atypical press conference. Míchel hugs Juan Carlos Unzué and the former goalkeeper, former Barça goalkeeper coach, also former Girona coach and commentator on DAZN, asks Míchel:
-How do you feel?
–I feel complete happiness. Having reached the Champions League after three years of work… All this is incredible, we have 74 points! It is a beautiful project, from football people who let you work, and having built a work like this leaves me speechless. The city should be proud, it is going to the Champions League and beating a team that has always had us in its shadow.
–And how have you achieved it?
–Removing those fears of a small team that fears for the result, although you know that they will kick you out if there is a bad result.
–That is essential, the patience that exists in the club, right? –Unzué points out.
–This direction allows you to grow alongside the player from below. Thus, the player feels safe with an idea. Look at Portu. His goal (the fourth) was wonderful, the best expression of football to enter the Champions League. But we play on Friday (they visit Alavés), so there is no rest (…). The definition of Portu is that of a player who comes in with a brutal mentality, who had complained to me because a few days ago he had scored (two days ago, against Cádiz) and then I had left him on the bench again, but look how has gone out.
Before Míchel applauds Portu, the Champions League anthem plays on the Montilivi public address system and people shout, and Portu confesses to the interviewer:
-I can not hear you…
–What do you feel now? –insists the chronicler at the foot of the field.
–I had a thorn in my side with this club. In my last year here I experienced the other side of the coin, the relegation to Second (2019). I felt like one of those responsible because I played every minute and I didn’t give my best and we were relegated (…) And now I remember Jota, Julius, all the physios, Quique, all the people who work at this club and that he was there before and took care of me and continues to take care of me now.
