GIRONA DI MICHEL SÁNCHEZ 2023-2024

Alzi la mano chi si sarebbe aspettato che il Girona, squadra catalana, competesse con il Real Madrid per le prime posizioni in questa prima parte di stagione. La squadra allenata da Michel Sánchez è indubbiamente la vera rivelazione della Liga e, in generale, tra le squadre più sorprendenti d’Europa. Il tecnico è alla sua prima stagione a questi livelli nella massima divisione spagnola, ma aveva già dimostrato un ottimo calcio in Segunda División (ora LaLiga Hypermotion), ottenendo la promozione con Huesca, Rayo Vallecano e lo stesso Girona.

Nonostante il Girona faccia parte del Football City Group (lo stesso di cui fa parte il Manchester City), il mercato estivo è stato tutt’altro che stellare. Rispetto alla stagione precedente, la squadra ha perso giocatori chiave come Castellanos e Oriol Romeu, passato ai rivali del Barcellona. Forse proprio questa cessione ha cambiato il volto del Girona, che ha visto il ruolo di regista passare da un mediano difensivo come Romeu a un ex trequartista come Aleix Garcia. Il dinamismo e la qualità del capitano sono diventati elementi cruciali nello stile fluido che Sánchez cerca di imporre.

Sistema di base: 4-3-3

Fase di possesso: 3-1-5-1 / 3-1-4-2

Fase di non possesso: 4-4-2 / 4-3-3

Il Girona si schiera con un 4-3-3 di base. Gazzaniga è il portiere, abile con i piedi, supportato da una linea difensiva composta, da destra a sinistra, da Martinez, Eric Garcia, Blind e Gutierrez. I centrali difensivi sono più abili nell’impostazione che nella marcatura, con Martinez più difensivo rispetto a Gutierrez, che tende ad avanzare. Aleix Garcia, il capitano, è il regista davanti alla difesa, fondamentale nella costruzione del gioco. A centrocampo, Herrera e Martin sono giocatori offensivi, capaci di partecipare alla costruzione e di concludere l’azione. Tsygankov, ala destra, ama il dribbling e il taglio verso il centro per cercare il tiro. Sulla sinistra c’è la stella della squadra: Savinho, brasiliano classe 2004, mancino, abile nel dribbling e imprevedibile. In attacco troviamo Dovbyk, ucraino, alto, forte fisicamente e abile nel gioco aereo, perfetto per cross e per proteggere palla contro i difensori avversari.

FASE DI POSSESSO

Costruzione iniziale

Il Girona cerca sempre di impostare l’azione dal basso, organizzandosi in una sorta di 3-1-5-1: Martinez resta vicino a Eric Garcia, Blind si allarga a sinistra come terzo difensore e Aleix Garcia si posiziona davanti a loro. Gutierrez stringe a centrocampo, fungendo da mezzala aggiunta accanto a Herrera e Martin. Tsygankov e Savinho restano larghi, mentre Dovbyk è il punto di riferimento avanzato.

Se il pressing avversario rende difficile l’impostazione, la squadra opta per un approccio diretto, cercando i centrocampisti larghi dietro la linea di pressing o un lancio lungo su Dovbyk. Aleix Garcia è cruciale in questa fase: se marcato, è abile nello scambiare posizioni con i difensori centrali per liberare spazio. Anche Herrera e Martin partecipano alla costruzione abbassandosi per offrire opzioni di passaggio e evitare i lanci lunghi.

Sviluppo

Superata la prima linea di pressing avversario, il gioco prosegue con un centrocampo a scalare. Aleix Garcia agisce da regista arretrato, mentre Herrera e Martin avanzano, cercando spazi tra le linee. Gutierrez si unisce spesso a loro, creando superiorità numerica. La squadra utilizza passaggi corti e resta compatta, cercando di allargare il gioco sulle fasce se non c’è spazio centralmente.

Rifinitura e finalizzazione

Nella zona di rifinitura, Herrera e Martin si combinano con Dovbyk attraverso rapidi uno-due o cercano il tiro dalla distanza. Il Girona è particolarmente pericoloso sui cross, creando triangoli sulle fasce per liberare il giocatore per il traversone. Dovbyk è un bersaglio ideale, ma anche Savinho e Gutierrez, grazie al loro tempismo, sono efficaci negli inserimenti.

FASE DI NON POSSESSO

Pressing iniziale

Quando gli avversari iniziano l’azione, il Girona cerca di chiudere tutte le opzioni di passaggio, pressando aggressivamente con gli attaccanti e il centrocampo. L’obiettivo è costringere gli avversari a giocare lungo o indietro. Tuttavia, questa aggressività comporta rischi: una linea difensiva alta e giocatori non sempre rapidi nel recupero possono lasciare spazio a pericolosi contropiedi.

Difesa a centrocampo

Il Girona si schiera con il 4-3-3 o il 4-4-2, a seconda dell’avversario. Aleix Garcia copre davanti alla difesa, mentre Herrera e Martin marcano più avanzati. Nel 4-4-2, un centrocampista esterno si unisce a Dovbyk nel pressing alto, mentre l’altro si allinea a Garcia per mantenere compattezza difensiva.

Punti di forza

• Savinho: Uno dei giovani giocatori più promettenti in Europa al momento, un calciatore brasiliano moderno dotato di grande velocità, tecnica e spirito di sacrificio.

• Qualità tecnica: La qualità tecnica della squadra è elevata, garantendo un eccellente controllo e gestione della palla, con Aleix Garcia che orchestra il gioco in modo magistrale.

• Organizzazione meticolosa: L'approccio scrupoloso di Sanchez all'organizzazione del gioco è estremamente efficace, soprattutto nella fase offensiva, con cross precisi e numerosi tocchi all'interno dell'area di rigore avversaria.

• Versatilità di Gutierrez: Un terzino moderno per eccellenza, capace non solo di giocare a centrocampo ma anche di inserirsi in area di rigore con un tempismo eccezionale per finalizzare le azioni.

Punti deboli

• Linea difensiva alta: La squadra a volte si spinge troppo in avanti, rischiando di subire contrattacchi quando il pressing aggressivo viene superato.

ENGLISH

MICHEL SANCHEZ’S GIRONA 2023-2024

Raise your hand if anyone would have expected Girona, the Catalan team, to be competing with Real Madrid for top positions in this early part of the season. The team coached by Michel Sanchez is undoubtedly the true revelation of La Liga and, in general, among the most surprising teams in Europe. The coach is in his first season at this level in the Spanish top division, but he had already demonstrated excellent football in Segunda División (now LaLiga Hypermotion), achieving promotion three times with Huesca, Rayo Vallecano, and Girona itself.

Despite Girona being part of the Football City Group (the same group as Manchester City), the summer transfer market was far from stellar. In fact, compared to the previous season, the team lost key players such as Castellanos and Oriol Romeu, who moved to Barcelona's counterparts. Perhaps it was precisely this transfer that changed the face of Girona, shifting from having a defensive midfielder like Romeu in the playmaking role to a former attacking midfielder like Aleix Garcia. The dynamism and quality of the captain have become crucial elements in the fluid style of football that Sanchez is trying to impose this season.

Basic system: 4-3-3

Possession phase: 3-1-5-1/3-1-4-2

Non-possession phase: 4-4-2/4-3-3

On paper, Girona lines up in a 4-3-3 formation with Gazzaniga in goal, a goalkeeper capable of playing with his feet, and a defensive line composed (from right to left) of Martinez, Eric Garcia, Blind, and Gutierrez. Both central defenders have great qualities and are more adept at building up the play than defending. Martinez has more defensive characteristics and stays more anchored compared to Gutierrez, who tends to push forward. The captain Aleix Garcia plays as the holding midfielder, dictating the tempo in the middle of the field and spreading the play to the wings. The central midfielders are Herrera and Martin, both offensive and skillful players capable of contributing to the build-up as well as finishing the play with a shot or an assist. Tsygankov plays on the right wing, a left-footed player who enjoys one-on-one situations and cutting inside to take a shot. On the left wing is the star player: Savinho. The Brazilian, born in 2004, is also left-footed and skillful in dribbling, making him unpredictable and effective. Lastly, the striker is the Ukrainian Dovbyk, also left-footed, tall, physically strong, and good in aerial play. This makes him a perfect target for crosses and for holding up play against opposing center-backs.

POSSESSION PHASE

Initial Build-up

In the build-up phase, Girona always tries to start from the back, organizing itself in a sort of 3-1-5-1 formation with Martinez staying close to E. Garcia, and Blind widening as the left third. Aleix Garcia positions himself in front of them, and Gutierrez tightens in the midfield, acting as an additional central midfielder alongside Herrera and Martin. Tsygankov and Savinho remain wide, and Dovbyk provides a reference up front for potential long balls. If Girona struggles to overcome the opponent's pressing and build from the back, they can opt for a direct approach, with the central defenders finding the wide midfielders behind the opponent's pressing line or even directly playing a high ball to Dovbyk for a knockdown. In this phase, Sanchez emphasizes the need for his players to be very active, especially Aleix Garcia, who is crucial in the team's build-up. When marked, Aleix Garcia is skilled at exchanging positions with the central defenders to disrupt the opponent's pressing and create space for his teammates. Herrera and Martin also get involved in the build-up, dropping alongside Aleix Garcia when all passing options are marked, providing an additional passing option and avoiding long balls.

Development

Once the potential first line of opponent pressing is overcome, the development of the play continues with a staggered midfield. Aleix Garcia, as mentioned earlier, plays the role of a playmaker in front of the defense, while the central midfielders Herrera and Martin generally play further forward, looking for space behind the opponent's midfield. Gutierrez joins them, transitioning from the left-back position to create numerical superiority. The development often involves short passes, with the team remaining compact. If there is no space centrally for the midfielders in the half-spaces, against particularly defensive teams, the player in possession (usually Aleix Garcia or one of the central defenders) opens the play to the wings to stretch the opposing defense.

Laterality and Finishing

When the ball reaches the wide midfielders in the finishing zone, Herrera and especially Martin have the quality to find Dovbyk moving behind the defense or combine with the Ukrainian striker through quick one-twos, utilizing his physicality before taking a shot from outside the box. Against low-block teams, one of the center-backs (usually Blind) may also join the attack, carrying the ball up to the edge of the opposing penalty area to draw defenders and free a teammate from marking. However, Girona is most dangerous when the ball is on the wings, utilizing crosses as their primary weapon. The team creates triangles on the flanks, involving the defensive-side central defenders, the wide midfielder, and the winger to create numerical superiority and free the player to deliver a cross.

Finishing

Therefore, Girona is a team that plays proactively, leveraging the technical quality of its attacking players. The team attempts shots from outside the box with midfielders and wingers like Tsygankov and Savinho. The Ukrainian is adept at cutting inside onto his left foot while playing on the right, and although Savinho, a left-footed player on the left, has the ability to cut inside towards the center and take a shot.

Most of the dangerous chances, however, come from within the penalty area. Sanchez's team is second in La Liga for assists derived from crosses: Girona consistently fills the box with many players, often even Gutierrez (who theoretically starts as the left-back) finds himself heading alongside Dovbyk. The striker is a threat on balls into the box due to his physique, but even Savinho and Gutierrez, despite not being giants, have excellent timing for attacking the ball. Most offensive actions are developed on the right side, but most shots come from the left side, with so-called "from fifth to fifth" crosses towards the far post being particularly dangerous.

NON-POSSESSION PHASE

Initial Defensive Action

When opponents start their attack, Girona always seeks to close all passing options to the ball carrier, executing aggressive pressing that involves even the attackers. Sanchez demands a lot of attention not only to man-marking but also to the ball's position, aiming to close passing lanes and force opponents to one side or to play backward or make long passes. However, this high aggression can be a weakness for Girona. Bringing many players forward and positioning the defensive line in midfield is a significant risk, especially with defenders not particularly adept at preventive marking and midfielders not very quick to recover.

If opponents manage to play a quick first-pass in the build-up and move rapidly behind Girona's first pressing line, a mistimed challenge or an error in pressing can lead to dangerous counter-attacks, catching the team too high up the field and forcing them to chase back.

Defensive Play in Midfield

In the defensive phase, Girona lines up with the starting 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2, depending on the opponent and the phase of the game. The midfield trio consists of Aleix Garcia in a covering role in front of the defense, with Herrera and Martin marking ahead of him. When Sanchez opts for the 4-4-2, one of the wide midfielders moves next to Dovbyk to pressure the opposing center-backs, while the other stays in line with Aleix Garcia, who still covers defensively.

Defensive Line and Defensive Laterality

A constant in Sanchez's defensive phase is the reorganization of the defensive line, which is lost during possession. The defensive line always marks opponents closely and maintains an aggressive stance, a characteristic that permeates all phases of Girona's play. Both central defenders and full-backs tend to break the line and advance high against their respective opponents, with Aleix Garcia often compensating by covering the space behind them. Even the wingers, especially the young Savinho, show a strong sense of sacrifice, dropping back to help the full-backs on their respective sides and providing double coverage.

TRANSITIONS

Offensive Transitions

Once the ball is regained, Girona tries to quickly initiate attacks through their quality midfielders, the speed of their wingers, or directly to Dovbyk for a quick counter, always accompanying the action with many players. If immediate offensive options are not available, Girona can be patient (they are among the top teams in La Liga for possession) and look for Aleix Garcia to regain control of the game through reasoned passing and gain territory.

Defensive Transitions

Girona's offensive spirit is reflected in defensive transitions as well. The team's compactness and well-studied spacing allow them to keep many players near the ball and execute a highly aggressive pressing once possession is lost. The re-pressing on the opponent's ball carrier is done effectively, aiming to regain possession as quickly as possible or at least disrupt the opponent's counter-attack. If this re-pressing is bypassed by the opponents, Sanchez's team tries to quickly retreat behind the ball line to close all spaces and regroup.

SWOT ANALYSIS

Strengths

Savinho: One of the most promising young players in Europe at the moment – a modern Brazilian player with great speed, technique, and a willingness to sacrifice.

The team's technical quality is high, resulting in excellent ball management, with Aleix Garcia orchestrating the play masterfully.

Sanchez's meticulous game organization is extremely effective, especially in the offensive phase, with precise crosses and many touches in the opposing penalty area.

Gutierrez is everywhere: a modern full-back capable not only of playing in midfield but also of getting into the penalty area with excellent timing to finish the play.

Weaknesses

The team is sometimes too high, risking counter-attacks when the aggressive pressing is bypassed.