Míchel
Girona, 2021-
Girona were La Liga’s surprise package in the 2022/23 season, with the Catalan club widely tipped to struggle after winning promotion. Instead, manager Miguel Ángel Sánchez Muñoz – better known as Míchel – had his team fighting for a European place until the last game of the season.
Neither club nor coach rested on their laurels. After 13 rounds of the 2023/24 season, Girona had started the following campaign in even better form. Playing arguably the most attractive football in La Liga, they topped the table for the first time in their 93-year history.
It is certainly a success story for the club and its players. Here, our UEFA-licensed coaches have analysed how Míchel got this group of players to punch so far above Girona’s historical weight.
In-possession: the 4-2-3-1
Míchel arrived at Girona in July 2021, when the club was in Spain’s Second Division, and wasted no time implementing his brand of brave, attacking football. His core playing principles have only strengthened in the top flight. After 13 games of the 2023/24 season, Girona averaged 52.45 per cent possession, 11.27 shots and 1.86 goals per game.
Their attacking play has been based largely around exploiting space, within Míchel’s favoured in-possession 4-2-3-1 structure. With this set-up, they have been well-positioned to build attacks on the flanks via their full-backs and wingers. They have at times also used a 4-1-4-1 shape, which features only one pivot but is still set up to make use of those same wide relationships.
Wide play
Combinations between right-back Yan Couto and right winger Viktor Tsygankov, and left-back Daley Blind with Sávio on the left flank, have been important. Girona’s full-backs and wingers occupy different channels, in order to take advantage of spaces in build-up play. For example, if the full-back is outside, the winger goes inside – where sometimes the opposite full-back is positioned after inverting.
Girona aim to get far-post runners in, unmarked, to capitalise on progression down the opposite flank. These can be midfield runners, or the opposite-side winger or full-back.
In and around the box, the central forward – typically Artem Dovbyk or Cristhian Stuani – attacks the space behind their marker (above). From there, they can produce an attempt at goal, or potentially assist players arriving from the second line of attack.
Girona’s wide play tends to develop in one of two ways. One is to get wingers in a 1v1 (below). There, they can either work a shooting opportunity, a cross or provoke a foul in or around the box.
Another method is to create wide 3v2 overloads. To do so, a full-back must advance to support his winger, having progressed the ball up the pitch where a number eight can help form the overload.
Third-player runs
As well as wide play, Míchel also works on beating the midfield press to build through the central channel with numbers. There, he wants his team to generate 3v2 or 4v3 overloads when possible. This can be done by creating space and exploiting it via third-player runs.
To open up spaces inside, influential pivot Aleix García and the number eights – below, Yangel Herrera and Iván Martín – form a staggered shape. On occasion, the striker may also make a supporting movement.
After receiving from the back line, Girona’s ball-carrier draws their direct opponent in, as well as any other opposition players helping to press (below).
From the previously mentioned 4-1-4-1 shape, one of Girona’s number-eight runners can then take advantage of spaces left by the opposition, opening up a passing line and enabling progress into the opposition half.
Front and back relationships
Forwards Dovbyk and Stuani have played important roles in Girona’s flying start to the 2023/24 season. Dovbyk, with seven goals in his first nine La Liga starts of the campaign, is adept at getting in behind the opposition. The Ukrainian exploits space created by teammates, whose supporting runs draw in opposing centre-backs (below).
Stuani tends to take advantage of wider spaces left by teammates making counter-attacking runs on the inside. From there, the Uruguayan can make more unchecked runs, driving inside to shoot. Indeed, Míchel has often called on him for matches where Girona require quick transitions.
At the other end, the centre-backs play a key role in Girona’s clean build-up from the back. The centre-back pair split in support of goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga, with the full-backs moving higher and wide (below).
Depending on the opposition's press, left-back Blind – who sometimes plays as a centre-back – can also invert in line with the centre-backs, switching Girona to a 3-2-4-1 in build-up play.
Out of possession
Míchel's Girona team favours a 4-2-3-1 mid-block out of possession, although they can also use a 4-1-4-1 variant depending on the game. With a double pivot, number 10 and narrowing wingers, they are then set up to protect the central spaces (below).
In a low block, the wingers and midfielders will also work back to support their full-backs. Against opponents looking to cross, they aim to show the ball-carrier inside, into traffic (below).
Míchel’s Girona have also done a good job with their in-possession rest defence, where the centre-backs work hard to reduce gaps between the lines. From their split position in build-up, they also offer passing options for the full-backs and wingers, which helps reduce the possibility of a transition.
The result has been impressive, both in terms of results and the aesthetic appeal of Girona’s play under Míchel.
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