Girona have been dumped out of the Copa del Rey by fourth-tier opposition, previous to their Champions League conflict with Liverpool subsequent week.
The Spanish aspect have been one of many shock packages in La Liga final season, ending third within the desk after accumulating 81 factors.
This season hasn’t gone as easily, nonetheless, with Girona eighth within the league and method down in thirtieth place within the Champions League.
On Wednesday, Michel’s aspect have been despatched packing from the Spanish cup within the second spherical, being dumped out by fourth-tier workforce Logrones, shedding 4-3 on penalties.
That’s regardless of 19-year-old defender Pol Arnau having to play in objective for the hosts throughout extra-time, following an damage to goalkeeper Enrique Royo.
There was controversy within the shootout, nonetheless, with Cristhian Stuani’s spot-kick deemed to not have crossed the road, regardless of showing to.
Talking after the sport, supervisor Michel bemoaned a massively disappointing night time, admitting that they deserved to lose whatever the drama.
That is unimaginable…
Cristhian Stuani’s Girona have been knocked out of Copa del Rey on Wednesday night time, because the Uruguayan’s decisive penalty through the shootout was deemed a miss.pic.twitter.com/kHiS6OA4kI
— Warriors of Uruguay (@UruguayanHeroes) December 5, 2024
“If you end up relaxed, this stuff can occur to you,” Michel mentioned.
“In matches, the distinction in divisions will not be seen, and we didn’t know easy methods to generate any possibilities.
“It was not noticeable that we have been enjoying with an additional man. We didn’t know easy methods to sink them. This format is made in order that issues like those who have occurred to us can occur.
“We didn’t do issues to need to be within the subsequent spherical. It’s a laborious blow, and now we have now to analyse what occurred.
“We didn’t give our greatest model.”
Michel did make 10 modifications to the aspect that drew 2-2 at Villarreal in La Liga final weekend, although, which does excuse the consequence barely.
Girona’s subsequent recreation sees them host Actual Madrid on Saturday night (8pm GMT) earlier than welcoming Liverpool to the Estadi Montilivi.
This consequence will likely be music to the ears of Arne Slot, whose Reds aspect make the journey to Spain subsequent Tuesday night (5.45pm) for a Champions League assembly.
All of the strain is on the Spanish outfit to get a consequence, with Liverpool already having one foot within the knockout phases after successful all 5 video games.
It must be seen as a fantastic alternative for Slot to ring the modifications, permitting key gamers a breather after a relentless run of fixtures.
The likes of Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa will hopefully get minutes, with the latter scoring for the under-21s on Wednesday of their 4-3 defeat to Nordsjaelland.
