The dream has become
reality. FC Girona, a city of 100,000 inhabitants in the northeastern part of
Spain, near the border with France, was promoted for the first time in its
history to La Liga. An historic and long-awaited success that came true after
the 0-0 draw last night against Zaragoza. And that’s it, with 70 points and
still a game from the end, promotion becomes mathematically ensured. Last year
the dream had shaken shape, but they stumbled one step before the finish line,
as Girona lost the final playoffs against Osasuna. This year the promotion is
already certain.
Pablo Machin's team was nothing but a simple one, as in the
first six league games they had only one victory. In addition to the early
elimination of the Copa Del Rey at the hands of Huesca. The gear change came
between the 14th and the 22nd match days, when Girona won 24 points in 9 games.
A streak that has allowed them to get to the final promotion. And old friend of
Italian football was decisive: Samuele Longo, author of 14 goals and 2 assists
in 37 games. A real protagonist season for the player on loan from Inter.
After finishing the festivities, the Spanish club manager will
soon have to go to work to stay as long as possible in the league that counts.
The first step is to expand the Montivili stadium, as it can hold only 9,200
spectators while La Liga asks for the use of facilities with a capacity of up
to 15,000.
After the stadium, the sports director Quique Carcel will have
to strengthen the team. To do so he will be able to count on the help of
Manchester City, the club with which Girona has for years been a sports
collaboration. In fact, this season are two players that Manchester has
lent to Spaniards, Pablo Mari and Pablo Maffeo. City's own sports director,
Txiki Begiristain, complemented Girona, confirming the desire of the two teams to
work together. "I want to congratulate Girona for doing something
incredible," said Begiristain. There are so many interesting youngsters
that Girona has in their rankings, like Jonas Ramalho, on loan from Athletic
Bilbao and the attacker Camara from the Barcelona school. The goal of President
Delphi Geli is to keep them all another year, confirming in bloom the rose that
this year has given a dream to a town that can finally enjoy, after years of
anonymity, for football.
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