La Liga manager wants to sign Barcelona midfielder, but admits it will be ‘impossible’

Girona have been the talk of the town in La Liga this season. While Barcelona and Real Madrid have got off to their signature positive starts to the campaign, Girona have stuck together and dished out masterclasses week after week to leapfrog both giants in the standings.

As it stands, they sit at the top of the table with 34 points and have scored the most goals of any La Liga side this season. Their only defeat thus far came against Real Madrid.

Michel’s side face Barcelona in less than two weeks in their first league meeting of the season. When asked about the big game coming up, the Girona manager downplayed any talk of his side being favourites.

“If we reach the game as leaders, it would already be a great sign because it would mean that we have won our matches. Yet, I would still think that Barça is a favourite.”

On Oriol Romeu

MIchel then went on to speak in detail about Oriol Romeu, who left Girona for Barcelona earlier this year. He revealed the deep respect he held for the midfielder’s quality but refused to comment when asked to speak about his struggles at Barcelona.

“Oriol has been a key player in our idea, but I can’t talk about what happens at Barça. I’m sure the difficulty is greater in every way. But for us, he was a very special player because he was the one who made me balance the pressures.”

He then went on to speak about what made the Spanish veteran such a special player, not only on the field but also off it.

“For me, he was a special player on and off the pitch because of his ability, first mental work.

“And second, you saw that one day after the game in which he had been on the field for ninety minutes, Romeu pushed players who didn’t have that habit of training on the extra day to do so. And now they have it installed. Look at how important Oriol has been. I still think he is a player who gave us a lot,” he added.

Michel also opened the door for Romeu to return to Girona, albeit with a sense of understanding that it would be difficult.

“I would, yes. Of course I would,” he said when asked if he would bring Romeu back.

“Have you heard it? I think it will be impossible. But with open arms, let him come.”

On Pablo Torre

Michel then addressed the topic of the player who moved from Xavi Hernandez’s camp to Girona this summer – Pablo Torre.

“He is one of the greatest talents. It’s not costing him anything. Pablo’s difficulty is the level that is now in the centre of the field,” he said on the youngster’s struggle for minutes.

The manager added that Torre would have to be patient for his chance and added that it was only a matter of time before it arrived.

“I’ve told him, he has to wait for his moment. Have resilience and work on it even if you’re not playing.”

“I have Pablo for a match plan and if he continues to train like this, he will have minutes. As long as he is happy with what he does. If he tells me that he is unhappy, we will look for a solution,” he added.

He concluded by praising the young phenom’s performance on the opening weekend of La Liga and admitted that he was a talent yet to be explored.

“I’m counting on him and if I need him, as I needed him in the first match of the League against Real, and he was spectacular, he will play. You have to wait for your moment.”

Source: AS