Girona must earn the right to be title contenders: Michel

La Liga leaders Girona have to earn the right to be regarded as title contenders alongside giants Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, coach Michel said after Monday’s win over Alaves.
The 3-0 home win propelled Girona back to the top of the standings with 44 points from 17 matches, two more than second-placed Real and nine above Barcelona, who Girona defeated earlier this month. “Madrid is going to fight for the league. Barca is going to fight for the league. Atletico is going to fight for the league,” Michel told reporters. “We have to earn that right...(and) end the year in the best way.”
Girona have been the surprise package of the season and have stretched their unbeaten streak to 11 league games. “I expected a much tougher game, much more complicated with transitions from the opponent but we didn’t let them do it at any time,” the Spaniard said. “The reality is that we are in good shape and we have had an incredible first half of the season.”
Girona will visit Real Betis in their final match of 2023 tomorrow. “Trying to win at Real Betis’ field, which is a beautiful game to play with a spectacular atmosphere and with the maximum difficulty because it is also a team that will be fighting in Europe,” Michel said.
Girona’s best finish in La Liga is 10th, so there is optimism they will at least make history this season. “There is still a lot left and we have to enjoy the moment. We have to go game by game and recognise that these players are making history,” he added.
On Monday night, Ukraine forward Artem Dovbyk scored twice as Girona wrote another chapter of their Cinderella story with a dominant 3-0 win over Alaves. Girona’s stunning start to the La Liga season scaled new heights last week when they claimed a statement 4-2 victory over Barca - their first league win over their Catalan rivals - and they kept the ball rolling against Alaves.
They dominated proceedings with the same intensity they have shown this season, with their 3-0 defeat at home to Real Madrid in late September, the only major blip in a stunning start to the campaign. Dovbyk opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a close-range strike from a rebound off the goalkeeper and Portu extended their lead just before the break with a fine first-time effort from the edge of the box.
Most of the hosts’ scoring opportunities came from the right side of their attack, with 21-year-old Brazil fullback Yan Couto troubling Alaves’ defence with his speed and skill. On one of his sprints up the wing, he knocked the ball through a defender’s legs to get into the box before being fouled from behind in the 59th minute, earning a penalty that Ukrainian Dovbyk netted with a tidy finish right down the middle of the goal.
The win was Girona’s 14th in 17 games, giving them the most wins and points in Europe’s top five leagues at this stage of the season. Their remarkable run has fuelled belief that they are equipped to challenge for a maiden title only two seasons after gaining promotion to the top flight.
“This team is so hungry that it doesn’t settle for anything,” Portu said. “The team wants more and we only think day to day about continuing. We can’t look at the standings. The key to the team is to stay focused, nobody relaxes here. It’s not easy to get used to winning, to have that extra pressure...but the team is handling it very well.”