Girona manager heaps praise on Real Madrid ahead of face-off: ‘Best team in La Liga right now’ | OneFootball

A 4-0 win over Olympiacos helped Real Madrid register their first victory after three games across all competitions earlier this week. Their next challenge lies away from home tomorrow as they take on Girona in La Liga.

After drawing two games in a row in the competition, it will be their objective to take all three points on the night. After all, Barcelona are just a point away from them ahead of the matchday.

Yet, it will be anything but easy given that Girona are in the relegation zone and fighting for survival, and will thus play with no fear against the league leaders.

Michel’s long praise of Real Madrid

Ahead of Girona’s clash against Real Madrid on Sunday, the hosts’ manager Michel spoke in detail about Xabi Alonso’s side, beginning with how the two teams tomorrow would have polar opposite objectives.

“For us, it is to get out of relegation. It will be a match in which we will have to play at 200%. We know it’s very difficult, but in our house and with our people – we really need the points.”

“Madrid are the best team in La Liga right now because they are the leaders. We need our fans. I need a great atmosphere, it is very important that everyone has the feeling that this game is not a final, but we do need to add the points,” he added.

Praising Alonso’s side for their form this season and the quality they have in their ranks, the manager said,

“Everyone knows how Madrid play and their virtues, which are many. They are difficult to stop because their players are the world’s top and have the best player, the best scorer, and the best goalkeeper. They are differentials in many phases of the game.”

“We need them not to be at their best and we need to be for 90 minutes at 200% in defense and attack. You have to suffer and play a great game in defense,” he added.

Elaborating on Los Blancos’ attacking potential and how it will be complicated to defend against them, he said,

“They reach the rival area a lot and have decisive players. We have to defend very well, but also attack to hurt Madrid. Let’s see if we are capable.”

“We will not change our mentality or the way we do things because there are many ways to play against Madrid and all of them are difficult for them not to bring out their best version,” he added on his team’s approach.

Michel was then asked to reveal more of his tactics against Real Madrid, but he straight out refused to hand the opponents any clues.

“I prefer not to give Xabi clues. I think they take Girona into account. Xabi knows that we, with the ball, have played good games and we can make the rival suffer.”

“You will take it into account for sure. But they also have a lot of very good things and we have to control them. We have to control their virtues,” he added.

Girona are in a difficult position. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The Girona manager was then reminded that Real Madrid were entering the game off the back of two draws, but he in turn reminded the press that Real Madrid arrived as league leaders.

“The leader is coming, I’ll keep this. I think it’s the only team in the world that has difficult times when it’s first. People talk about what’s wrong and I think they are the only ones to whom this happens while being a leader.”

“They come with two draws in a row, but they have only lost two games, against Atlético and Liverpool. The other games have been won or tied. It means that they are a great team and that they usually win,” he added.

He then praised Kylian Mbappe and Thibaut Courtois, saying: “They have the best striker in La Liga and the best goalkeeper.”

Michel was then asked about his analysis of Real Madrid as a rival manager, to which he only had words of praise.

“We have analysed them, we have a lot of data in favor and they say that they are first or second in most offensive things. They are the first team with good passes, that is, they dominate you and have most passes in the opposite field.”

“They are second without the ball have the most success in ball recoveries and pressure. It’s very difficult because they have talent and differential players,” he added.

The opposition manager then warned his team of the impending danger, saying,

“Madrid has very good things, but it has a demand that when they draw everything is magnified a lot. I am clear that the leader is coming, the best team so far and we need to counter them and be ourselves.”

The Spanish tactician then openly revealed the fear he had of facing Real Madrid and how he would have liked an easier opposition given his team’s situation.

“I would like to face more teams of our level now to be able to look further ahead because tomorrow we can play a great game and lose. That Real Madrid comes is never good, but we are good at competing.”

“We will surely play a good game and we will be brave. We will have our identity. There will be no doubt that we will play a great game,” he added.

Finally, he was asked if he saw any scenario where his side would win the game tomorrow, to which he said,

“Yes, we can arrive in this match. We have lost points at home against rivals who I think are of our level and we need to win at home. These points don’t come back and I need more points.”

“That’s why I need to beat a complicated rival, like Real Madrid tomorrow. Because the normal thing is that they win almost everything and if you win this game it’s three very good points,” he added, emphasising the underdog tag.

“In addition to the soul feeling of beating the leader. We need points and we have to play against Real Madrid,” he concluded.

Source: AS