Tsygankov refuses to play in Girona's draw against Leganés

GironaTraumas are not overcome from one day to the next, but Montilivi and Girona took the first step to begin forgetting the enormous disappointment that the relegation a few months ago represented. Far from reproaches, discomforts, or notable scoldings, both the fans and the team put on a good face. Everyone knows this will be a long haul, and it's better to be comfortable with it. The reward for the energy was Abel Ruiz's last-minute goal, which salvaged a hard-fought point against an effective Leganés (1-1).

The bravery of the new coach, Quique Álvarez, who preferred to act from the heart and field players who want to defend Girona through thick and thin, helped. Because, for now, with the squad still incomplete, not all footballers want to compete in the Second Division, even though some are directly responsible for the change in category. At halftime, Tsygankov, who went straight to the box and wasn't even called up, was caught by the giant screens and was met with loud boos. After the match, the coach was clear and forceful, explaining that the footballer was initially called up but refused to change. The opposite case was represented by Arnau Martínez, who, despite negotiating his move to Valencia, wore the captain's armband as he had so many times before. Each to their own conscience.

Montilivi witnessed the debut of Holmes, a native of Reus who turned 17 last week, in the defensive midfield. There are two factors that explain this: that the sporting management has reached the first matchday with a plan in which there are only four defenders from the first team and one of them, David López, was a last-minute absentee; and that the kid has done brilliantly over the summer. The personality he showed marking forwards with considerable experience in professional football was applauded by the entirety of a stadium that, without question, surrendered to the passion of the young players.

Besides the center-back, who even dared a very wide bicycle kick that, had it gone in, would have gone viral, Álvarez also turned to a pair he knows well from his time with the reserves. The coach embraced the energy of Minsu and Dawda (Vanat was a substitute), who gave their all. It might not seem like much, but in the current situation, it is highly valued. Fourteen months ago, Álvarez, Minsu, and Dawda were promoted together from Tercera RFEF to Segunda RFEF. No one has gifted them the current opportunity.

The 0-1, unexpected

Naim's pipe at the start of the second half was totally unexpected, because Girona managed to isolate themselves from the uproar surrounding management in the offices and were the only team to present a candidacy during the first half. Not only did they propose, they showed themselves to be active and enjoyed the most dangerous chances, but, what's more, they didn't suffer at all and conveyed the security that any promotion contender must have. They led the offensive game thanks, especially, to Iván Morante, a footballer with a very good foot who will make headlines this season. Morante was one of the four new faces in the starting eleven; the other seven were part of the relegated squad.

But the Second Division doesn't understand about reputations, labels or good play; all it wants to know is whether the ball goes in or not. And Girona was unable to score until injury time. Well, before that Arnau scored, still at 0-0, but he was offside. The white-and-reds, in general, were not fully on point in resolving actions or in the final pass, and Leganés scored on their first serious approach. On the second, Tejero almost replicated the great goal, but the woodwork spat it out. This will be a common theme, so economic efforts must be focused on effectiveness in the areas: you can't just live off the joy and confidence of the young players, you need players who make a difference.

Girona flirted with a draw with sporadic bursts, such as two shots from Asprilla from the edge of the box that Raúl Fernández deflected for a corner. Persistence highlighted Abel Ruiz as the main protagonist, a forward who also began to shed weight from his backpack with a providential goal. It didn't serve for Girona to win, but it did serve to establish non-negotiable conditions of resilience. In the Second Division, they will be needed more than ever.