Girona, weighed down by its lack of goals, visits Rayo with the hope of escaping relegation | Soccer | Sports
When Girona appeared to have left behind the struggling of a turbulent begin to the season, going down from day after day, they seemed over the precipice once more. The victory in opposition to Villarreal and the draw at the Bernabéu at the starting of April strengthened the feeling of a extra aggressive and united crew, succesful of rebuilding after spending a number of days at the backside at the starting of the season. But the margin was nonetheless minimal, and the weight of that dangerous begin was felt. “The League is so complicated and eventhat two or three negative results mean that you are in the same situation as at the beginning. But we have improved a lot,” stated Míchel this Sunday in the press convention previous to the sport in opposition to Rayo Vallecano this Monday.
Four days after the match in opposition to Villarreal, only with Stuani as a pure center forward —now they are going to recuperate Abel Ruiz—, Girona has not gained once more, and faces three video games in six days with the nervousness of being one level above the relegation locations, however the peace of thoughts of being out of it. “We were prepared,” admitted Míchel concerning the risk of going through the match in Vallecas in the pink zone. “Concern, yes. Responsibility, all. But work, to full200%,” summarized the coach. Girona’s drawback is just not solely in the objectives it receives – 51 this season – but additionally in these it produces. Against Rayo, the sixth crew that has conceded the fewest objectives, it should play with a burden: the lack of a objective.
The crew gironí He has solely scored 36 objectives this season, one of the lowest figures in the First Division, and in addition has a distinction of -15 objectives in the scoreboard. The drawback worsened once they have been left virtually with out heart forwards. After that victory in opposition to Villarreal, Vanat, the crew’s prime scorer with 10 objectives in 29 video games, stated goodbye to the season because of a hamstring harm. But simply 5 days later Abel Ruiz additionally fell, punished once more by muscle issues in a season during which he has had no continuity: solely 278 minutes in 11 video games and no objectives. Against Rayo, he’ll as soon as once more enter the squad.
But till now, Stuani was alone. The Uruguayan, 39 years outdated and whose contract ends this summer time, was the solely pure 9 out there for Míchel. This season has not reached its full potential. The muscle accidents he suffered between November and January slowed down his continuity and considerably restricted his position. Almost all the time a game-changer, he has participated in 18 video games, though he solely began two, and has 4 objectives—three from penalties—in simply 355 minutes.
Last season, nevertheless, Stuani was decisive in ensuring permanence. He completed as the crew’s prime scorer with 11 objectives, and 5 of them got here in the final seven days, when relegation critically threatened Girona. That streak contributed seven elementary factors to make sure continuity in the First Division.
With no heart forwards out there for the final month and with Stuani in a extra residual position, Míchel turned to Claudio Echeverri like false 9. The Argentine, owned by Manchester City, was already needed by Girona final summer time, though he lastly selected to go to Bayer Leverkusen, seduced by the risk of enjoying in European competitions. After a discreet expertise in Germany (11 video games), he lastly ended up at Montilivi throughout the winter market on mortgage. In addition to having much less time to adapt, his profile responds extra to mobility and play between the traces than to that of a set reference in assault.
Ounahi has not managed to take care of the stage he confirmed throughout the starting of the course both. His 5 objectives nonetheless place him as the crew’s third prime scorer, though his harm and the Africa Cup affected his efficiency. Tsygankov, with seven objectives, has maintained a extra fixed offensive contribution.
With 4 days nonetheless forward, the crew continues to depend upon itself to save lots of itself. “There are four finals left and we have a clear objective: salvation. This shield, this city, our fans and all the people of Girona deserve to be in First Division,” stated Arnau Martínez in statements to the membership’s media. Stuani additionally assumed the dimension of the second after the last defeat against Mallorca: “We already have experience in this situation, and we know that it is very difficult. We have gotten into problems and now we have to solve them.”
A 12 months in the past, Girona present in Stuani’s objectives the definitive increase to flee relegation. Now, the refuge is extra unsure, as a result of not even the king of Montilivi appears succesful of supporting the whole weight of the objective alone.
