Latest news with #FootballEspaña
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Season in Review Girona: Make sure you have a parachute when reaching for the stars
With the European season officially at an end, Football España will be reviewing each and every one of the La Liga sides and how they fared this season. La Liga: 16th – 41 points Copa del Rey: Second Round Top Scorer: Cristhian Stuani – 11 goals Top Assister: Miguel Gutierrez – 6 assists Coming off a miraculous season like last year, Girona started this year on an incline, but they probably didn't imagine their journey to be quite so cold and mountainous. Early on, things were going rather well, Girona debuted in the Champions League, and mixed with Paris Saint-Germain and the bright lights. In La Liga, new signings Abel Ruiz, Bojan Miovski, Yaser Asprilla, Ladislav Krejci (you see where the problem is developing), Bryan Gil and Donny van de Beek were struggling to adapt, but performing reasonably well – certainly at expectation. As the tinsel on their Champions League campaign grew tired though, things got very cold. It is a testament to the bizarre year in La Liga that Girona were in a European spot in mid-January, and eight games later were three points above the drop. Their horror film of a second half of the season required a knight in shining armour, and who more noble than Sant Cristhian Stuani of Montilivi. Always him. What a player. Girona spent €15.5m on forwards last summer, and the 38-year-old Stuani has as many goals as both Abel Ruiz and Bojan Miovski together. Top scorer for the team too. — Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) May 5, 2025 Salvation, and Stuani's contribution, at least provided some sense of joy at the end of season that contained a vast world of footballing multitudes. Finishing above relegation saved this from being D for disaster, and Girona did compete well in Europe, even if they found themselves unable to secure results. Nevertheless, the investment and the squad were good enough for a much better season. In a year without outstanding candidates for the Conference and Europa League spots, with the Blanc-i-Vermells in one at midseason, they very much could have been in there, and certainly comfortable above the drop. Michel Sanchez should be praised for adapting to the dogfight in the final games, dragging Girona over the line, but it does come at a cost. This summer, Girona must start from scratch to an extent, rebuilding their style, and with few certainties over their squad for next season. Image via Julien De Rosa / AFP How could it be anyone else? Miguel Gutierrez and Paulo Gazzaniga might say different, but the role Stuani played in leading a lost Girona through the marshes of March and April cannot be understated. The 37-year-old scored 11 goals and gave two assists in his 41 games, but in La Liga had the best goals per minutes ratio of any player in the league. Clutch is the word, and Stuani scored five goals in Girona's last seven games, which amounted to five extra points: the difference. A much tougher category, which we will use to recognise the work of veteran Paulo Gazzaniga. Beyond his absurd efforts against Athletic Club, in which he stopped three penalties to hold onto a 1-1 draw, the 32-year-old was impressive in the face of adversity. Pau Lopez was brought in from Olympique Marseille, many thought to be the starter in the Champions League, and Lopez saw off the competition with ease. Photo by IMAGO This section was equally difficult, but sadly due to the wealth of candidates. Arnaut Danjuma invoked the ire of Girona fans with six games to go though, as an inexcusable giveaway in his own half against Leganes that cost the Catalans two points, which was a metaphor for his season. The Dutchman attempted a nutmeg, sighed and walked off as Leganes broke, and Michel ended up publicly calling out his lack of collective spirit. Danjuma has shown in the past he has Champions League quality, but his five goals and two assists in 37 appearances did not reflect that. Hem tornat! 👋 — Girona FC (@GironaFC) July 8, 2025 Girona are perhaps one of the hardest sides to predict going into next season. There will likely be a significant turnover of players, as their wage bill adjusts, and there will be exits for some of their best players again. Michel will have to deploy his methods again after a season which ended with him admitting that they were not working. There are plenty of raw materials to work with, but Girona need a good transfer window to stop the loss of quality, and they need a mental reset to return to their former selves: plucky, well-drilled and firm in the belief of their style.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luis de la Fuente on Isco's return to Spain: 'The right moment'
Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti announced as Brazil coach Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti is set to leave the club and take over as Brazil's new national team coach. Ruairidh Barlow, Football España editor, tells CNN World Sport's Amanda Davies why it's a good move for both club and country. 5:00 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘No pressure' from Barcelona over Wojciech Szczesny contract extension
Wojciech Szczesny will be given the space to decide on a Barcelona contract extension in the coming months. The former Poland international endured a tough start to life as the first choice goalkeeper for Barcelona, but he has started to deliver with his performances in recent weeks. Flick made the bold call to bring Szczesny out of retirement in the first half of the campaign following a serious injury to No.1 Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The initial plan was for Szczesny to provide back up to Inaki Pena had stepped up as Ter Stegen's replacement but the roles have reversed in 2025. That has placed strain on Pena's relationship with Flick and he may now opt against a contract extension in Catalonia. However, Flick has remained pragmatic over the situation, insisting that Szczesny's form is making him almost undroppable at a key point in the season. The situation could now force a rethink from Szczesny, who was planning on hanging up his gloves again in the summer, but there is now a firm chance that he stays at Barcelona for at least another 12 months. Deco and Hansi Flick want Szczesny to sign a contract extension, despite Ter Stegen's drive to return, as he offers an experienced option in the squad. As per reports from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, talks have already begun to extend Szczesny's bond until June 2026, with an offer put forward to his representatives. 🚨Both sides are relaxed over talks but Barcelona want Wojciech Szczesny to extend his contract until 2026 — Football España (@footballespana_) March 15, 2025 The final call will come down to the player himself, and his potential desire to re-retire in 2025, if terms are not favourable for a continuation. No update is expected until at least May, with all parties fully focused on the campaign run-in, as Barcelona fight for a La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League treble in Flick's debut campaign at the helm.
