Tense press conference at Girona: "We have never taken a euro from the club"

GironaTwelve days after relegation to the Second Division, Girona has broken the cold and distant silence in which it had settled. It has done so without subterfuge, with most of the top officials facing the music. Such an act is not remembered at Montilivi. The president, Delfí Geli; the chairman of the board of directors and owner of 16% of the club's shareholding, Pere Guardiola; the general director, Ignasi Mas-Bagà; and the sporting director, Quique Cárcel, have conveyed an image of unity and defense of a project that will remain strong and stable despite the setback.

The appearance, highly anticipated in the city and which lasted more than an hour and a half, has served to reveal some of the unknowns surrounding a club that two years ago was in the Champions League and now will not even play in the First Division after squandering well over a hundred million in a surprising and painful freefall process.

“We understand that the fans asked for explanations, but we had to get over the grief, resolve the Míchel issue and know where to go. Relegation is a setback for everyone, but at other times we have shown that we can overcome difficult situations and we will do it again. We have failed and we assume our responsibility,” explained Geli, who recalled the growth the entity has experienced in the last decade on the day that marks nine years since Girona's first promotion to the First Division. “Bad thoughts must go away, we will compete from the first moment. And the objective is clear: return to the First Division as soon as possible. We want what has happened to us to be just a step back.” Geli highlighted the role and commitment of the three shareholders, City Football Group, Marcelo Claure, and Pere Guardiola. “They give us stability”.

Economic management

Guardiola said that, since his arrival, the club is more professional and has more assets. "But we have failed," he repeated. "We haven't been relegated for just one reason, several things have happened. The bad start, the injuries, and the final stretch, which has killed us." The Santpedor native spoke of footballing causes, in no case of decisions or planning from the offices. He even referred to Barça's defeat in Vitoria with the League already won, or Atlético de Madrid's lineups, which defeated him in the penultimate match, in the last part of the calendar. "We know that promotion is very difficult, but if we are all together, we will be closer to the objective." Quique Cárcel also ratified, whose curriculum at Montilivi he detailed, where he will begin his thirteenth season. "He is once again the best to lead us."

Guardiola defended himself against the criticism received regarding economic management, especially since qualifying for the Champions League. "I don't like seeing graffiti around the city pointing me out as a commission agent. We have never taken a euro from the club, neither in the form of dividends nor in any other way. And when Girona has needed it, an effort has been made. The money has been put on the field to build the best squads. We are not opportunists, we have been here for a long time." In front of President Delfí Geli's house, graffiti also appeared calling him a "puppet".

The minority shareholder added that everything indicates that in the next quarter "it is supposed" that they will be able to carry out phase 2 of the Sports City in Vilablareix and that the club cannot financially support the construction of a new stadium. At this point, Ignasi Mas-Bagà took the floor, who estimates that there will be around 37 million in operating income for the next season (equivalent to a 50% reduction), including the relegation subsidy, which will be 16 million.

The initial hypothesis does not foresee dismantling the retractable stands of Montilivi this summer, unlike the first relegation. He also clarified that the Champions League income was divided over two years, as required by the League. "We couldn't spend all the money, because it was most likely that there wouldn't be a second year in Europe. And the first summer we made a significant investment regarding the squad."

"I will never abandon a child"

“As the person most responsible for the sporting aspect, I have to apologize,” stated Quique Cárcel, who assured “I am clean, because I know the entire club worked hard to try and achieve salvation. A ball hitting the post can change many things; we would be in a different press conference if Lemar's shot in the final minutes against Elche had gone in. But I don't want to dwell on the past, because it makes it harder for me to get going.”

“For me, Girona is like a child. And I will never abandon a child, unless they want to abandon me. I want to reignite the fans' excitement, and I feel capable of doing so. In the hours after relegation, I didn't have the strength, but now I feel I will do it again because the people in this club have lifted me up,” argued the white-and-red sporting director, who recalled that three players left on August 25th, which conditioned the season. “The market moved us, not us the market. Some signings in recent times have gone very badly, we can't fool ourselves. But as I've said several times, and people take it as a joke: this isn't "Fantasy". If it were, tomorrow I would build a team in 20 seconds, we would have a great team and wouldn't be in the Second Division, we'd be playing in the Champions League.”

Cárcel detailed the non-renewal of Míchel, who has already been presented with Ajax, stating that “if we had stayed up, he would have continued on the bench, but it's common sense that with relegation and the interest from important clubs, it's over. There are looks that speak for themselves.”

The Barcelona native has not yet finalized the new coach: the list includes García Pimienta, Alessio Lisci, and the brothers Quique and Óscar Álvarez, currently with Girona B. "We need someone who gives us energy." Regarding players, he hasn't revealed who will stay and who won't in the squad, but about twenty players are under contract and they don't want to sell them cheaply. "Until we work under the new coach's umbrella, we can't move much. I hope to finalize it during June, but it won't happen in a couple of days. And I warn you, the squad won't be complete by July 15th either, before the "haters" tell me everything.”