How have Girona become such a force in 2023?

THE SUPRISE

Míchel has turned Girona into a force this season. After managing Rayo and then Huesca, Míchel took the reins at Girona in 2021 when the club was back in Spain's competitive second division. He got the club promoted at the first time of asking and then consolidated with an impressive 10th-place finish last season. Girona FC is presently leading the La Liga table, ahead of 35-time winner Real Madrid and 27-time winner Barcelona, after 13 matches. This is no ordinary feat for a club that is featuring in the Spanish top flight just for the fourth time

"No, it can't happen again. Fairy tales are meant for books and movies, not for football. At least not so frequently." This is what football fans must be thinking all over the world after witnessing Girona FC’s massive strides in La Liga. Neutrals the world over wouldn’t mind Girona doing a Leicester. If it happens, football will be richer for it.

HOW HAVE THEY RISEN IN SUCH SHORT TIME?

THE ROLE OF CFG

The CFG arrangement is such that all clubs under its wing are interconnected in one way or the other and feed off each other to flourish. Girona is no different and has been a massive beneficiary of CFG’s support. For example, teen Brazilian striker Savio, who scored against Rayo in a 2-1 win yesterday and in all has four goals and four assists to his name in the league, is on loan from French club Troyes which is a CFG-driven establishment

THE TACTICS

 The motto is to play an aggressive high press that suffocates the opposition. They have a Gegenpressing Intensity Percentage (GPI) of 55.08, the fourth-best in the league. 

The defensive structure is dynamic GK-4-4-2, where they position themselves in a low block to minimize the space behind them

It is achieved through flexible positioning, interpretation of the game, and collective movement to create a sense of fluidity and passing options. Girona's beautiful football is a result of player movement, relationships, continuity, and a simple ingredient that makes them unique

In summary, they are a small team with big aspirations, and with some support from their manager and owners they have shown that they are capable of flourishing if they just stay focused one had Girona on their radar, no they are wondering what they might do next...just within a year....how the tables have turned...Clubs do need money but even with this money being pumped in to them they have still outperformed...In my opinion they should  just continue doing the same until clubs take away their talents....