LaLiga: Girona Manager Michel Hails Team's Spirit After Villarreal Draw

Girona manager Michel praised his team's determination after they came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against Villarreal in LaLiga, but admitted reaching the top four will be a tough task.

Girona manager Michel expressed pride in his team's resilience after they managed to salvage a crucial point against Villarreal in LaLiga on Sunday. Despite trailing 2-0, Girona demonstrated remarkable determination to secure a hard-fought 2-2 draw, a testament to their unwavering mentality.

Villarreal had appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable victory, which would have brought them closer to league leaders Barcelona. However, Ladislav Krejci's stunning volley in added time stunned the hosts, allowing Girona to escape the Estadio de la Ceramica with a well-deserved draw.

“At 2-0 it was very difficult to draw the game. I don't know if it was deserved but for me it was a great game from both teams,” a relieved Michel said.

“(Villarreal coach) Marcelino controlled the tactical aspects and managed to make sure that with just a few touches the opponent hurt us in transition.

“I saw us losing (at 2-0), of course. They have a lot of quality and I thought that it was difficult to get something positive from the game. At 2-0 the team tried, we made it 2-1 and then we got into the game.”

Girona's recent result propelled them to seventh place in the standings, but they still face an uphill battle to reclaim a top-four spot. Villarreal currently occupies fourth place, boasting a four-point lead and a game in hand, which puts additional pressure on Girona to perform.

According to Michel, Girona's manager, climbing back to fourth place won't be an easy feat, especially considering their Champions League commitments. With a dismal 30th place standing after five games, Girona is still far from qualifying for the knockout stage, which adds to their challenges.

Girona manager Michel acknowledged that catching up to Villarreal, who currently occupy fourth place, will be a challenging task. “It will be complicated. Villarreal have found the key and with three competitions I don't know if we can reach that level,” Michel said, highlighting the difficulties of competing on multiple fronts.

Michel also noted that Villarreal's advantage is not insurmountable, but they do have a game in hand. “They are not far away now with the draw, but they have a game in hand,” he added. Meanwhile, Girona's injury woes have been a significant concern this season. Although Ladislav Krejci and Miguel Gutierrez were seen limping after the game, Michel reassured that they had only suffered “bumps and bruises” and would be fine.