Xevi Masachs (Amer, Girona 1979) He has extensive experience in the communications world and, today, is the director of ‘L’Esportiu de Catalunya’. A few days ago he presented ‘Endavant, Girona!’, a book in which, giving voice to many of its protagonists, he reviews the keys to the success of Girona, a humble club with much more history than people believe.
It has been evolving since 2013 when it was on the verge of being promoted to the First Division. And now that Europe is already a reality in Girona after the victory over Cádiz in Montilivi, Míchel, the players on the squad and the club have a pending dream – and it is getting closer: to be in the Champions League next season. There are only six games left – 18 points – and there are ten points that separate them from Athletic. Will they achieve it?
From the frustrated promotion in 2015 – taking into account the attempt in 2013 – to being one step away from playing in the Champions League. How do you value this giant step?
Girona is a club with a lot of history, since in 2030 it will turn 100 years old, but it is true that for much of its history it had been competing in more modest categories. And it was not even a reference in the Girona regions. On the other hand, since the first promotion to Primera in 2013 everything changed. And this last decade could culminate with the dream of the Champions League.
The beginning was not easy, but the insistence and love for the club pushed the project forward. Do you think they were aware at that time of the success that Girona would have a few years later?
When the owners joined the club, they were thinking about a long-term project – in fact they always told us that. They had the ambition and the desire to play in the First Division. But of course, one thing is to explain the long-term plans they had and another is to prove it. They have suffered many setbacks – the team went down to Second when no one thought about it, they spent two years without being able to go up – and they had little competitive background, it gets even more complicated. And for me what Girona has done shows that yes, there was a project, because they have managed to rise from the blows they have suffered to get to where they are today.
You quote that “Quique Cárcel is the architect of Girona’s golden decade”, which is why Montilivi has not enjoyed another sports director. And he was the ‘culprit’ of Tsygankov or Dovbyk, among others, coming to Girona, being attentive to a fairly unknown market. How do you value his role in the club?
It’s fundamental. As the name clearly defines, a sports director has the sporting function and responsibility and, surprisingly, in many cases this is not the case. But he has always had full powers and maximum trust on the part of the owners, both in good and bad times, and the club has ended up thanking him. And let’s not forget either that he is the one who maintained confidence in Míchel when the team was sunk, and ended up achieving promotion to First Division. Quique Cárcel was Míchel’s first defender and convinced the club to trust him.
Masachs has just published ‘Endavant Girona’ / –
Pablo Machín left his mark on Girona. Eusebio, Juan Carlos Unzué, Juan Carlos Moreno and Francisco passed. And in the summer of 2021 Míchel arrived. How do you assess his role in this historic season?
Machín made history with Girona and nothing can be blamed on him, he promoted the team to First Division for the first time in the club’s history and made the group of players who had played in Second and had no experience in the highest category carry out a magnificent season. But it is true that Girona and Míchel speak the same language. He has the same style of football that the club and, mainly, Quique Cárcel want.
And what about ‘Catalan Míchel’? He has integrated wonderfully in Girona.
He does it very naturally. He says that he wanted-and wants-to learn Catalan surely from respect, humility and from what he has learned. For him it is a way to integrate into a city where Catalan is spoken. He wanted to learn the language as a matter of education and naturalness.
Míchel promised Stuani that he would wear the captain’s armband in Girona’s first match in Europe. A detail that goes beyond sports.
Stuani has always prioritized Girona. He has experienced very hard moments, like when the team could not certify promotion to First Division in the last promotion game (19/20), and he felt responsible even after scoring 31 goals. He even had a hard time. And that he can enjoy the dream of the Champions League is very nice.
You dedicate a chapter to it. Stuani is the perfect example of commitment and love for a club. It’s not easy at all.
From being used to playing everything with Girona to playing fifteen, twenty minutes… He has accepted his role very, very well this season. He has extraordinary numbers as a substitute player and has always said that he wants to be and play for Girona.
Pep and Michel. Different but with many points in common. One of them, having the will, and the ability, to get the best out of their players.
Míchel and Pep had their first meeting in Barcelona and, as they told me, they spent the time talking about tactics. Míchel took the opportunity to acknowledge all his work because, in the end, he admires it from a distance. They share an idea and style of play, both focus on possession and handling of the ball. And it is something that is noticeable and impacts footballers, because many would not have grown up or be where they are today if they had not gone through Míchel – or Pep in the case of Manchester City.
This Girona has a defined identity and a very clear idea of the game. In Montilivi he has always shown it – or almost always – but he is having a hard time doing it away from his stadium, especially in this second round. What do you think is wrong?
It’s curious, because Girona recorded extraordinary numbers away from home in the first round. And now they have had five defeats. Although it must also be taken into account that he visited the Bernabéu, San Mamés and the Cívitas Metropolitano. Of course, the defeat in Getafe is a bit surprising. It would be difficult to find a single reason to explain it, because Girona is a team whose approach, theoretically, does not change whether it plays at home or away. But in Montilivi he has become very strong and has overcome many difficult moments, such as the victory over Betis in added time. And outside it is harder for him to get up whenever he receives a blow.
Being part of the City Group brings economic stability and attracting talent, but Girona has its own identity. Of course, if the transfers that began in 2015 had not been too exciting, Míchel has known how to exploit the conditions of Yangel, Couto and Savinho. Three key players in Míchel’s scheme.
That City has helped is undoubted, and it has done so financially in times of great difficulty. And visually in the form of assignments. They have been present since 2015, but the performance was not as expected for many years – without being a direct criticism of Pablo Machín, because his work was extraordinary. In his first year in Primera, he had Douglas Luiz – look where he is now -, Aleix Garcia… There have always been transfers, but Míchel has known how to take advantage of them very well. But it is clear that Girona is a club with its own identity.
“I hope that in Girona, little by little, people are only from Girona. We need people 100% from Girona,” said Míchel after the victory in Montjuïc. Do you think it’s happening?
There are already many people – young people especially – who have Stuani and company as references. Due to family tradition or history there are many culés in Girona, and they will continue to be so. But the point is that the context that the club is experiencing now is unknown, for the better, and little by little it will get better. The question is whether the culés will have their hearts divided or will they become more of Girona. What is clear is that there are many more Girona fans, and not only in the city or in the Girona regions, but they are expanding to Maresme, Osona… It is a natural evolution of a club that believed it was unimaginable that something like this would happen. fifteen years ago.