´I saw us losing´: Coach Michel hails Girona´s fighting spirit against Villarreal

Michel was delighted with the mentality shown by his Girona team after they fought back to draw 2-2 with Villareal.

Girona were heading for defeat when Alex Baena put Villarreal 2-0 up early in the second half.

Yet Donny van de Beek dragged Girona back into it before Ladislav Krejci’s superb volley deep into added time salvaged a point at Estadio de la Ceramica.

“At 2-0 it was very difficult to draw the game. I don’t know if it was deserved but for me it was a great game from both teams,” a relieved Michel said.

“[Villarreal coach] Marcelino controlled the tactical aspects and managed to make sure that with just a few touches the opponent hurt us in transition.

“I saw us losing, of course. They have a lot of quality and I thought that it was difficult to get something positive from the game. At 2-0 the team tried, we made it 2-1 and then we got into the game.”

Amazing, Krejda! pic.twitter.com/xGeGjc19VS

— Girona FC (@GironaFC_Engl) December 1, 2024

The result moved Girona up to seventh in the standings but they have work to do to return to the top four, with Villarreal in fourth place, four points ahead and with a game in hand.

“It will be complicated. Villarreal have found the key and with three competitions I don’t know if we can reach that level,” Michel said.

“They are not far away now with the draw, but they have a game in hand.”