It was an unappealable result
, enough to mark the field and put the history books on the playing field.
Real Madrid crushed Girona 4-0
, the great revelation of the season in Spain, to take them
five points
as the leader in the standings.
Many would not see a positive outcome in such a lapidary result and performance, except for
Michel
, the coach of the Catalan team who is having an unforgettable campaign.
"It is not a painful defeat, it is a learning process to put ourselves in our place. Our rival is not Real Madrid, we are not really at that level. We are in a dream and we continue in it
," defended the coach at a press conference.
Michel and Carlo Ancelotti.
Photo: REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
"I could have played a game to win. You can lose 1-0 being defensive, in a low block with three centre-backs. Our moment as a club requires us to give our best version of what we had done throughout the year and show that we were on their own merits. They have painted my face and it serves as a learning experience
," he confided.
"Competing LaLiga at the Bernabéu, we knew inside that it was not our goal. We wanted to play a good game and fight Real Madrid face to face. It didn't happen to us and the maximum responsibility is mine because I asked for high pressure. I have exposed the players because it was the time. Let there be no criticism of them, the maximum responsibility is mine. We had nothing to lose, much to gain and we are in a privileged situation," he added.
And he closed: "Our League is Athletic, Betis, Valencia. We cannot be in Real Madrid's League. We get points from Barcelona and Atlético but they are not from our League, they are three transanlantic ones. We are not the fourth candidate, so "I have always thought. We put on our overalls from humility and if we continue working we are candidates to be in Europe."
The party, without objections
Real Madrid, leader of LaLiga, resolved the match with Girona, its runner-up in the championship, with a solid 4-0, with another recital by Jude Bellingham.
The Brazilian Vinicius Jr opened the scoring in the first minutes of the game (6) and two other goals from the English midfielder (35, 54) knocked out Girona, who conceded again minutes later after a great individual action by Rodrygo (61).
"It was a key game for us and it was very important to win it. All games are, but this one a little more, we are happy with the victory
," Rodrygo declared to Real Madrid television.
The merengue midfield imposed its tactical power thanks to a great performance by Bellingham, in total rapport with Vinicius: the Brazilian assisted the Englishman in the first of his two goals and was also at the origin of the second, after a shot by Vinicius was cleared by Gazzaniga at the feet of Bellingham, who only had to push the ball into the back of the net.
Thanks to his double, the Englishman is the top scorer in the League alone, with 16 goals, to which we must add another 4 in the Champions League.
Joselu had a penalty in the last play that could have made it 5-0, but the post saved Argentine goalkeeper
Paulo Gazzaniga
.
With this victory, Real Madrid distances itself with 61 points compared to Girona's 56, a comfortable cushion in the championship before traveling to Leipzig on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.
The only bad news was Jude Bellingham's departure due to an ankle injury shortly after his second goal (57th).
Coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed after the game that he suffers a sprain and that the severity of it will be evaluated on Sunday.
"Bellingham has a sprained ankle, they are going to evaluate it tomorrow (Sunday). Hopefully he can recover by Tuesday
," the Italian announced at a press conference.