Modern football, a concept as worn as it is abstract, is increasingly physical. In many cases, success comes from the boots of players who make their portentous musculature their best weapon. Other teams, already in the minority, continue to give more value to the good handling of the ball, to a show idea that is more appreciated by the fans. Manchester City is the main guarantor of this attractive proposal, more protagonist than reactive, and in Spain, with Barça in low hours, there are Girona and Real Sociedad, rivals today in Montilivi.
The good results of the Catalans and Basques are the merit of their coaches, Míchel Sánchez and Imanol Alguacil. “It is one of the best teams in Europe”, flattered the Madrid coach yesterday in the sixth round of the League, who adopted the Cholista formula, going “game by game”, to continue in the fight for the title. “Get the most out of the team”, returned the sheriff’s foil.
The accolades for Míchel and Alguacil are the result of years of effort and learning. His idea requires talented footballers, but intensity and work, both physical and tactical, are non-negotiable, as modern football requires. They don’t have a magic wand to know how to embody good football. Their teams are the result of their trajectories, the two day laborers of the king’s sport as players and coaches. They have been polishing their teachings with humility until they take on the best with colorful and brave football. It is the conjunction between possession and verticality.
Míchel was forged in the neighborhood, in Vallecas, and after three promotions to Primera he has culminated his great work in Montilivi. Alguacil hung up his boots playing Segona B and before becoming a technician he worked in sales and created a courier company. He started in the band to teach the boys of the cadet of his town, Orio, but in 2018, after passing through the lower categories, he took command of Real on a temporary basis due to the termination of Eusebio. The following season, after Garitano left, he definitively took control of Anoeta. The rest, a fairy tale: Cup champion in 2021 and this year in the eighth round of the Champions League after two decades.
“I’m at the best club. I want to renew and make more history”, a Sheriff who already has the second best ratio of victories in the history of his beloved Real denied wanting to coach Barça. Míchel also has no intention of going to Barcelona, ??grateful to a Girona that is already his second home. They don’t need the halo of a big club to be happy, just as satisfied as a fan delighted with the football their teams play.
