Michel: Man City's next Guardiola masterminding Girona's LaLiga challenge

Suraj Radia

• Updated: 18 Nov 2023 20:42 GMT
• 4 min read

There have been just three seasons in the last 20 years where a team other than Real Madrid and Barcelona have led La Liga after 13 games, none more surprising than Girona, who sit two points clear at the top of the table.

The Catalan side only got promoted to La Liga last season, finishing 10th in their first season back in the top flight, and their 11 wins this season is just two shy of their total amount of victories in the whole of the last campaign.

Some would point to Girona’s ownership by the City Football Group as an important footnote to mention, with the La Liga outfit used as a feeder club for players who could one day make the step up to play for Manchester City or another major side.

PROFILE: Who is Arnau Martinez? A standout star for Girona wanted by Real Madrid

However, it would also be remiss to not credit Girona manager Michel Sanchez for the impeccable job he has done during his two years at the club, having initially led them to promotion from the Segunda Division in his first season.

The 48-year-old is making his name with Girona and his positive brand of football combined with the exceptional results have led to Barcelona reportedly monitoring as a potential replacement for Xavi if they end the season trophyless.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Michel has also been linked as a successor to Pep Guardiola at Man City and if the Girona coach does manage to lead his side to a stunning, Leicester City-like title win, it seems a foregone conclusion that he, like his players, could make the step up to one of Europe’s elite sides.

Michel taking tips from Pep as City links fuel

Girona are the highest scorers in La Liga this season and boast one of the highest possession stats in the league, similar to the preferred mould of Barcelona and City’s sides.

While some may dismiss Girona’s push to the top of La Liga as a good run of form, the Blanquivermells have been more than deserving of their results, in part due to Michel getting the best out of his young talents.

One of Girona’s top performers has been 19-year-old Savio, nicknamed Savinho, who is owned by CFG’s French side Troyes and the forward has grabbed four goals and four assists from the left flank this season, having been moved there by Michel after previously playing on the right in his career.

NEXT UP: Everything you need to know about Savio, the teenage wonderkid who could join Man City

Former City midfielder Aleix Garcia has also been impressive for Girona and the Spaniard revealed Michel had been getting tips from Guardiola this season.

Speaking to Spanish outlet AS, Garcia explained: “Pep we all know who he is, what a great coach he is and everything he has won. Míchel is trying with the City Group, with a lot of contact with Pep, to learn from him. He has brutal football concepts.”

Girona director Quique Carcel also admitted Michel could one day coach City, saying: “[Sanchez] has the talent to lead a big club like Manchester City [but] still needs time to get there to this type of benches.

“City plays football that Míchel, with a smaller club, is being able to do. Although for him to train them, a lot of coordination has to happen, like Pep making the decision to leave.

“[He's] happy in the team, with a contract and with the desire to continue making the project great. The pressures in Girona are different from those he may have on a bigger bench.”

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