Michel, Head Coach of Girona
Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images
FC Barcelona tasted defeat for a second game in a row as they were beaten 2-1 by Girona on Monday night in La Liga.
The result, however, came with major controversy as there was a clear foul on Jules Kounde in he buildup to Fran Beltran’s 86th-minute winner that went uncalled by the referee.
Moreover, VAR also failed to intervene and pull back play for the foul, allowing the goal to stand, in turn condemning Barça to a crucial defeat.
Speaking to the media after the match, Girona manager Michel was ecstatic with his team’s performance against Barcelona, while he also downplayed the controversial incident that led to the winning goal.
“It was a counter-attack; I think Claudio went for the ball. Claudio didn’t go in with his studs, he went in with the inside of his foot to try and win the ball,” he explained.
“If they call a foul, that’s fine by me, but it’s good that VAR didn’t intervene. It’s very unfair to focus on just one play, considering the game we played,” Michel added.
Michel, Head Coach of Girona
Michel’s Girona secured a much-needed win vs Girona. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
The Girona manager did not hide his satisfaction after defeating Barça at Montilivi, underlining the importance of the victory.
“The win was crucial because there’s a group of ten teams fighting to avoid relegation, and beating Barça is very difficult; they win 90% of their matches. We played a fantastic game; I really enjoyed it against such a formidable opponent,” he said.
He also highlighted the collective effort against a top-level opponent, saying: “If we look at the stats, Barça ran a lot. We made them run back and they suffered more than they should have.
“It’s a 10 out of 10 for the players; the credit isn’t mine because they’re the ones who dared to do everything I asked of them.”
Michel also had words of praise for Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who made seven saves on the night and won the MVP award.
“Joan Garcia was Barça’s best player, and we showed incredible character,” he said.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
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