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<p>Three LaLiga victories in 26 games</p>
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<p><img alt="What is happening at Girona? From Champions League to risk of relegation" src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/galerie/girona-spot-1761738888-181556.png" title="What is happening at Girona? From Champions League to risk of relegation"></p>
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<p>Last season, the iconic Champions League anthem echoed through the Montilivi stadium as Girona made their debut in the prestigious tournament. With a capacity of 14,624, it was the smallest venue in the entire competition, symbolizing their incredible rise. Girona only first participated in LaLiga in 2017, after 87 years of existence, reminiscent of Leicester City's remarkable journey when they led the Spanish top-flight during the 2023/24 season.</p>
<p>Ultimately, they secured third place, finishing behind Real Madrid and Barcelona, but ahead of Atlético Madrid, which granted them Champions League qualification. Expectations were high that Girona could firmly entrench themselves in European competition, especially with the City Football Group holding a 47% stake in the club. However, the reality has been starkly different. After narrowly escaping relegation last season, they currently sit at the bottom of LaLiga after ten matches. What has gone wrong?</p>
<h2>Girona’s Challenges Post-Champions League Qualification</h2>
<p>The disappointing truth is that Girona's remarkable achievements had raised unrealistic expectations. The Catalan city has a population of less than 100,000, and their rapid ascent made them victims of their own success, resulting in significant concerns over their current situation. With only five games left last season, Girona found themselves perilously close to relegation, merely three points ahead of the drop zone. Veteran striker Cristhian Stuani played a crucial role in their survival, scoring decisive goals against Mallorca and Valladolid as Girona ultimately finished 16th.</p>
<p>This season, however, their struggles have continued, with just one victory and the worst goal difference in the league. Girona has managed only three wins from their last 26 LaLiga matches, despite having the ninth most valuable squad. Their qualification for the Champions League prohibited them from loaning players from Manchester City, and LaLiga expert Iván Fuente from <em>Transfermarkt</em> believes they simply overachieved. “Perhaps it’s not that Girona's performance has declined, but rather that two seasons ago their performance was extraordinary,” Fuente stated. “They finished third when they had never previously finished above tenth. It should also be noted that this is only their sixth season in LaLiga.”</p>
<h2>Girona’s Investments: Not Capitalizing on Success?</h2>
<p>Girona’s ties to Manchester City are well-known, with Pep Guardiola's brother, Pere, serving as chairman. While the club's connection to the affluent City group has been advantageous, there is a common misunderstanding that their progress in Spanish football was fueled by significant investment. This is not the case—details of their spending following promotion are available here. The main issue has been their transfer activity since finishing third in LaLiga, as they have failed to adequately replace key players who departed. Artem Dovbyk, Aleix García, Eric García, and Savinho all left after the memorable season, and their replacements have not performed adequately.</p>
<p>Fuente elaborates, “Míchel has lost many players who excelled two years ago: Dovbyk, Savinho, García, Miguel Gutiérrez, and Yangel Herrera. Others have aged, such as Paolo Gazzaniga, David López, Stuani, and Daley Blind. Meanwhile, new signings like Bojan Miovski, Yáser Asprilla, Abel Ruiz, Donny van de Beek, and Arnaut Danjuma have not met expectations.”</p>
<p>Since the commencement of the 2024/25 season, Girona ranks as the sixth highest spender in LaLiga (€73.4 million) but has generated significantly more through player sales (€115.8 million). The €42.4 million profit made during this period is the fourth highest in LaLiga. Despite their financial gains, they have not reinvested strategically in the transfer market to build on their earlier achievements. While the City Group invested heavily to position Manchester City as a leading European club, they have adopted a more cautious strategy with Girona, suggesting that winning trophies or consistently qualifying for European competitions is not their primary goal for the club.</p>
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