Michel Praises Girona's Performance In Champions League Debut Despite Heartbreaking Loss To PSG

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Michel encouraged his team to hold their heads high after their Champions League debut, despite a last-minute loss to Paris Saint-Germain. Girona managed to keep PSG's attack at bay for most of the match. However, Paulo Gazzaniga's unfortunate own goal in the 90th minute handed PSG the win. This marked the first such decisive own goal in a Champions League game since November 2022.

The Girona coach praised his team's efforts and Gazzaniga's performance before the mishap. "Now in the dressing room, people are a little bit down," Michel told reporters. "I told them that we have to be proud of the game we played." Despite being subdued by PSG, Gazzaniga made several crucial saves that could have easily turned into goals.

Michel acknowledged PSG's deserved victory but expressed pride in his team's performance. He hoped for another opportunity to play in Paris next year. The coach noted that his players were initially nervous in their first encounter with Europe's top club competition but was pleased with how they handled themselves against such a formidable opponent.

At the beginning of the match, nerves were evident among Girona players. As the first half progressed, they showed more personality and commitment. Michel added, "At the start of the game, we were very nervous, you could see that. But as the first half went on, we found personality, commitment, attitude."

In the second half, fatigue set in as PSG increased their pressure. Girona found themselves defending more frequently. Despite this challenge, Michel felt his team delivered a commendable performance under intense pressure from a top-tier team.

Looking ahead, Girona is set to face Feyenoord in their next league-phase fixture. This upcoming match presents another opportunity for Girona to build on their experience and showcase their growth on Europe's grand stage.