(Reuters) – Girona have been hit by injury blows to Oriol Romeu and Daley Blind ahead of their Champions League home clash against Dutch side Feyenoord, but manager Michel insisted on Tuesday that his side will go all out to win on a special night for the club.
The duo picked up their respective injuries during Girona’s 1-1 LaLiga draw at Celta Vigo on Sunday, with Spanish midfielder Romeu now facing approximately eight weeks on the sidelines while Dutch defender Blind is out for four weeks.
Having never qualified for Europe’s elite club competition in their 94-year history, Girona secured a place in the Champions League by finishing third in LaLiga last season, just four years after being promoted to the Spanish top flight.
“It’s our new reality. We need to take it one game at a time,” Michel told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s game at the Estadi Montilivi.
“The midfield without Romeu is short-handed. But tomorrow, we need the best possible eleven to win. We have to look at it like that.
“I’m especially worried about the psychological issue. Romeu didn’t play against Rayo Vallecano and got injured. The most important thing is that the head is fine. My concern is to go game by game and the team that plays will be the best possible.”
After going toe-to-toe with Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona for much of the last campaign, Girona are now being tested by the best sides in Europe and Michel acknowledged that it is a challenge to juggle domestic and continental duties.
Girona have had an underwhelming start to the LaLiga season, winning two and drawing three of their eight matches to sit 12th with nine points. They lost their Champions League opener at Paris St Germain 1-0 last month.
“The pressure of playing LaLiga and Champions League is difficult. We want to win because making history in the Champions League is a dream for us. And for our fans, those who will be on the pitch and those who will be away,” Michel said.
“Hearing the Champions League anthem at home will be historic in Girona. The maturity of this squad is great. We have players with a lot of experience who know how to handle this situation.
“From my perspective as a coach, from a management point of view, it is easier to manage the change towards the Champions League. From the ‘boom’ of playing in the Champions League you need to return to the reality of the league, which is what is going to give us the possibility to continue growing as a club.”
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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