Michel Praises Girona's Efforts Despite 1-0 Defeat to AC Milan

Girona's Champions League campaign came to an end with a 1-0 defeat to AC Milan, but coach Michel praised his team's proud performance.

Girona's debut Champions League campaign came to an end on Wednesday, as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to AC Milan at San Siro. Despite the loss, coach Michel expressed pride in his team's overall performance in the competition. A first-half goal by Milan winger Rafael Leao proved to be the decisive factor, but Girona's display was commendable.

Michel acknowledged the challenge posed by Leao, saying, “I tried to tell my players how to stop Leao and, except for the goal, we succeeded.” The Girona coach felt that his team had matched Milan in many aspects of the game, stating, “Milan had many chances, but we were no less. I don't know if we deserved a better result, but we were present, alive and aggressive.”

Michel's admiration for the San Siro stadium was evident, as he expressed his desire to return to the iconic venue. “We want to return here. San Siro is a stadium appreciated and admired by all the fans,” he said. Girona's Champions League campaign may have ended in disappointment, but they have gained valuable experience that will serve them well in future competitions.

Girona's surprise third-place finish in LaLiga last season had raised hopes of a strong Champions League campaign, but they ultimately earned only three points from their seven league phase games. Their sole victory came in October, when they beat Slovan Bratislava 2-0 at home. Despite the disappointing outcome, Michel's team can take heart from their performances and look forward to future challenges.

Girona's away record in the Champions League has been dismal, with the Spanish side losing all four of their matches on the road without scoring a single goal. Coach Michel acknowledged this weakness, saying, “We were consistent with our way of playing, but we failed to get points.” He identified transitions as a key area for improvement, stating, “Several teams penalised us in the Champions League with transitions. We must correct these errors.”

Despite the disappointing results, Michel expressed pride in his players' efforts. “Despite everything, I am very proud of my players. They did what the club had asked,” he said. Michel felt that his team had performed well in the match against Milan, but ultimately fell short. “The match was played well, we had several chances, but we also suffered a lot in the transition phase,” he added.

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Girona's Champions League campaign has been marked by a series of tough defeats, including losses to Paris St Germain, Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, Sturm Graz, Liverpool, and Milan. They will host Arsenal in their final game, looking to end their campaign on a positive note. Michel emphasized the importance of consistently performing at a high level, saying, “You need to always be at a high level.”

Michel also highlighted the challenges of competing against top-class opponents, particularly those with exceptional individual talent. “You need players who make the difference,” he said. “If we play against (Kylian) Mbappe, Leao and (Ousmane) Dembele, I can't tell (35-year-old defender) David Lopez to chase them.” This comment underscored the difficulties faced by Girona in their debut Champions League campaign.