As far as this SBOTOP observer is concerned, they were unquestionably the team of the season – anywhere in the football world.
Yet even now, a quarter of a year on, their achievements still beg one key question: how exactly did Girona, playing in the Spanish top flight for just the fourth time in their history, finish third in La Liga and qualify for European football for the first time in their history?
Make no mistake, they were simply magnificent.
Seeing off the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in some style along the way, it was all under the guidance of a Madrid boy born and bred.
An icon at boyhood club Rayo Vallecano after spending the majority of his playing career there across two spells, Míchel also managed the club, and then Huesca, before taking the reins at Girona in 2021 when the club was in Spain’s second division.
Promoted at the first time of asking, consolidated with a fine 10th place finish and then La Liga highlights on the way to third last term, the achievement was mind blowing for a side whose stadium capacity is below 15,000 and dwarfed by the majority of their opponents.
But now to another obvious question: when you have scaled such heights against all expectation, how exactly do you follow that?
How exactly do you hold onto your top talent with vultures circling – many of them who can buy you ten times over?
Realistically, and sadly, you don’t and that has proved to be the case again this summer.
At the time of writing, among the key departures are Savio from Troyes.
The 20 year-old took La Liga by storm last season with a string of excellent performances on loan and that has now officially earned him a move to the Premier League champions where he has signed a five-year deal.
Girona had hoped to re-sign Savio for their inaugural season as a Champions League club.
In a further blow, rules also prohibit any transfer activity taking place between Girona and Man City because of the clubs’ shared City Football Group ownership which means the Catalans cannot re-sign Yan Couto, who was another integral member of Michel’s squad last term.
Likewise, loanees Eric Garcia and Pablo Torre have returned to Barcelona.
It’s also looking increasingly likely Girona will lose last season’s La Liga top scorer Artem Dovbyk.
Negotiations with Atletico Madrid, who Girona finished ahead of in the league, are ongoing with Los Rojiblancos hoping to lower the price and Girona, quite understandably, refusing to sell him for less than the €40 million stipulated in his release clause.
Quite rightly too. This is a player who was the first Ukrainian marksman to win the Pichichi Trophy as he helped Girona hit a ‘magnificent seven’ at home to relegated Granada to finish last season in some style.
They say things come in bursts and, unfortunately for Girona, this has proved to be the case as Aleix Garcia moved to German champions, Bayer Leverkusen, last month after two years in which the 27 year-old midfielder had been one of La Liga’s top performers.
All in all then, Girona will probably begin next season without half of the nucleus of the team which created such memories.
Despite all these setbacks, the club has continued to impress with their approach in the transfer market and the overall project and progression this summer.
Among the incomings, Donny van de Beek has arrived from four unfulfilled years at Manchester United.
The Dutchman will hope to revitalise his career in Catalonia and should have the opportunity to establish himself as a key player early on with the departure of Garcia creating an opening in midfield.
If he can rediscover his best form, they will have a bargain.
Van de Beek has become the fourth of five additions to Michel’s squad, joining Ladislav Krejci, Abel Ruiz, Alejandro Frances and Gabriel Misehouy in making the move to Montilivi.
Given everything you have just read, few can expect a repeat performance in 2024-25 as Girona juggle competing domestic and European exertions.
The La Liga betting odds concur as they make Girona only sixth favourites (jointly with Real Betis), way behind champions Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad.
What else do you expect for a club which hails from a city of less than 100,000 residents, overshadowed by Barcelona 99 kilometres down the road, and a team which regularly has to sell its best players.
Girona, though, remains a club which operates to its strengths and will be capable of causing more than a few surprises, especially if it can strengthen in key areas.
History beckons and they deserve their moment.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
