With the European season officially ended, Football España will discuss Elke van de la Liga parties and how they did it this season.
La Liga: 16th – 41 points
Copa del Rey: second round
Top scorer: Crithian Stuani – 11 goals
Top Assister: Miguel Gutierrez – 6 assists
When he came out of a wonderful season, like last year, Girona started a slope this year, but they probably didn't imagine that their journey was so cold and mountainous. In the beginning it went pretty well, Girona debuted in the Champions League and mixed with Paris Saint-Germain and the bright lights. In La Liga, new signing sessions Abel Ruiz, Bojan Miovski, Yaser Asprilla, Ladislav Krejci (you see where the problem is developing), Bryan Gil and Donny van de Beek struggled to adjust, but reasonably well for the expectation.
However, when the Klatergoud on their Champions League campaign got tired, it became very cold. It is proof of the bizarre year in La Liga that Girona was in a European place in mid -January and eight games later three points above the drop. Their horror film of a second half of the season required a knight in glossy armor, and that more noble than Sant Crithian Stuani from Montilivi.
Rescue, and the contribution of Stuani, at least gave some sense of joy at the end of the season that contained a huge world of footballing crowds.
Finishing over relegation saved this from D for a disaster, and Girona competed well in Europe, even if they were unable to achieve results. Nevertheless, the investment and the team were good enough for a much better season. In a year without excellent candidates for the conference and Europa League spots, with the blanc-i-vermells in one in the mid-season, they could have been a lot there and certainly comfortable above the drop.
Michel Sanchez must be praised to adjust the Dogfight in the last games, drag Girona across the line, but it costs a price. This summer Girona has to start all over again, rebuild their style, and with few certainties about their team for next season.
How can it be someone else? Miguel Gutierrez and Paulo Gazzaniga may say differently, but the role that Stuani played in leading a lost Girona through the marshes of March and April cannot be underestimated. The 37-year-old scored 11 goals and gave two assists in his 41 games, but in La Liga the best goals per minute ratio of each player in the competition had. Link is the word and Stuani scored five goals in the last seven games of Girona, which amounted to five extra points: the difference.
A much more difficult category that we will use to recognize the work of veteran Paulo Gazzaniga. In addition to his absurd efforts against Athletic Club, in which he stopped three penalties to hold a 1-1 draw, the 32-year-old was impressive in the light of adversity. Pau Lopez was brought in from Olympique Marseille, many thought it was the starter in the Champions League, and Lopez easily abandoned the competition.
This section was just as difficult, but unfortunately because of the wealth of candidates. Arnaut Danjuma, however, called on the anger of Girona fans with six more games to go, as an unforgivable giveaway in his own half against Leganes that cost the Catalans two points, which was a metaphor for his season.
The Dutchman tried a nutmeg, sighed and walked away when Leganes broke, and Michel publicly expressed his lack of collective mind. Danjuma has shown in the past that he has Champions League quality, but his five goals and two assists in 37 performances did not reflect that.
Girona is perhaps one of the most difficult games to predict that it will be next season. There will probably be an important turnover of players, because their wage account adapts, and there will be outputs for some of their best players. Michel will have to use his methods again after a season that ended with him and admitted that they did not work.
There are many raw materials to work with, but Girona needs a good transfer window to stop the loss of quality, and they need a mental reset to return to their former self: courageous, well drilled and firm in the conviction of their style.