Girona coach Michel says the players need to be bolder in attack

Girona coach Michel urged his team to adopt a bolder attacking approach as he took some of the blame for his side's difficulties in adapting to the new season, which saw them appear in both the Champions League and the Champions League for the first time LaLiga starts.

Girona will be looking to end a six-game winning streak in all competitions in LaLiga against Athletic Bibao on Sunday after a 3-2 home defeat to Feyenoord in midweek in the Champions League.

Girona had never qualified for Europe's elite club competition in its 94-year history and secured a place in the Champions League by finishing third in LaLiga last season, just four years after winning promotion to Spain's top flight.

Michel said LaLiga is the priority this season for Girona, where they are currently 14th in the table with nine points from eight games and have scored nine goals in the league so far, while Bilbao are sixth with 14 points.

“The most important thing is the league, that is our vitality, we have to perform there to make the club grow. We need a win with the home fans so that the good feelings can be converted into points,” Michel told reporters on Saturday.

When asked how he felt compared to last season, he said: “I have to be the one to adapt to the player's characteristics, otherwise they won't feel comfortable on the pitch.”

“It is clear to me that my style of play is good for every player, but they have to understand that they have to take a step in our game. Any player can do that.”

“I don't ask them to dribble past three defenders and score, but I ask them to play forward and up, that they always look (courageously) in the faces of their opponents.”

“We have a team that can perform very well and does things very well. We must not get into a negative dynamic.”

Michel confirmed that winger Portu will miss the game against Bilbao with an ankle problem, adding to an injury list that already includes midfielders Viktor Tsygankov, Oriol Romeu and defender Daley Blind.

“I'm (also) trying to get used to playing on Wednesdays and Sundays… Little by little we have to understand how things are going and we have to solve them quickly,” the coach added.