Latest news with #MichelSanchez
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Veteran Belgian centerback Axel Witsel leaves Atletico Madrid for Girona
Veteran Belgian centerback Axel Witsel leaves Atletico Madrid for Girona originally appeared on The Sporting News With the opening of the 2024-25 La Liga season just days away, 36-year old Belgian centerback Axel Witsel is officially leaving Atletico Madrid on a free transfer to Girona. Earlier in the transfer window, Witsel entertained a future in Italy after agreeing to personal terms with Udinese, but a final agreement never came to fruition. Now, Witsel is set to remain in La Liga as a member of manager Michel Sanchez's Girona. Over the past three seasons, Witsel was a key member of the Atletico Madrid defensive unit as the versatile, pass-proficient Belgian logged well over 2,000 minutes in each of his first two seasons with the Spanish side. As a reformed midfielder with a tenacious, intelligent defensive approach to challenges, Atletico manager Diego Simeone utilized Witsel as part of his iconic back three-at-the-back formation with regularity. In fact, Witsel started 19 Champions League matches for Atletico during that timeframe, so his value to the club remained clear even if he accepted a diminished role throughout the 2024-25 season. However, Atletico Madrid recently acquired centerback Clement Lenglet on a permanent deal after hosting the defender on loan from Barcelona during the 2024-25 season. Now that Lenglet will stay with Atletico long-term, the club felt comfortable enough with its defensive options to move on from Witsel. Prior to joining Atletico ahead of the 2022-23 season, Witsel spent four years in the Bundesliga with Dortmund, including a nine goal-contribution campaign in the 2019-20 season. Now joining Girona, Witsel will take on a new challenge with a club entering the Champions League for the first time in its history. With that in mind, Witsel can provide defensive stability, leadership and experience in spades while contributing to the Blanquivermell's debut in the European competition. And although Witsel's mobility has decreased with age, the veteran could comfortably slot into the Girona midfield, perhaps in a holding role, if the club so chooses. READ MORE: Sevilla's Loic Bade nearing transfer to Bayer Leverkusen On Friday, Aug. 15, Witsel's new squad, Girona, will host Rayo Vellanco to begin this season's La Liga campaign. For more information on La Liga and each of its 20 first division clubs, follow @EricJRutter and @sportingnews on X for continued football coverage.
Daily Tribune
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Villarreal edge Girona
Villarreal maintained their push for Champions League football next season with a late 1-0 win at Girona on Saturday in La Liga. The Yellow Submarine, fifth, with the top five qualifying, needed an 89th-minute header from Karl Etta Eyong to snatch victory at the Montilivi against a struggling Girona side. The Catalans were without coach Michel Sanchez as he is under observation in hospital as a 'precaution', Girona said Friday, against an undisclosed ailment. Villarreal dominated the game but only found a breakthrough when Alfonso Pedraza's cross found Cameroon-born midfielder Eyong. Victory puts Villarreal level with fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao on 61 points, four ahead of Real Betis, sixth, who host Osasuna on Sunday. Mallorca, ninth, kept their hopes of European football alive with a 2-1 win over relegated Real Valladolid.
NDTV
11-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Villarreal Edge Girona To Maintain Champions League Push
Villarreal maintained their push for Champions League football next season with a late 1-0 win at Girona on Saturday in La Liga. The Yellow Submarine, fifth, with the top five qualifying, needed an 89th-minute header from Karl Etta Eyong to snatch victory at the Montilivi against a struggling Girona side. The Catalans were without coach Michel Sanchez as he is under observation in hospital as a "precaution", Girona said Friday, against an undisclosed ailment. Villarreal dominated the game but only found a breakthrough when Alfonso Pedraza's cross found Cameroon-born midfielder Eyong. Victory puts Villarreal level with fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao on 61 points, four ahead of Real Betis, sixth, who host Osasuna on Sunday. Listen to the latest songs, only on Mallorca, ninth, kept their hopes of European football alive with a 2-1 win over relegated Real Valladolid.
New Straits Times
11-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Villarreal edge Girona to maintain Champions League push
BARCELONA: Villarreal maintained their push for Champions League football next season with a late 1-0 win at Girona on Saturday in La Liga. The Yellow Submarine, fifth, with the top five qualifying, needed an 89th-minute header from Karl Etta Eyong to snatch victory at the Montilivi against a struggling Girona side. The Catalans were without coach Michel Sanchez as he is under observation in hospital as a "precaution", Girona said Friday, against an undisclosed ailment. Villarreal dominated the game but only found a breakthrough when Alfonso Pedraza's cross found Cameroon-born midfielder Eyong. Victory puts Villarreal level with fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao on 61 points, four ahead of Real Betis, sixth, who host Osasuna on Sunday. Mallorca, ninth, kept their hopes of European football alive with a 2-1 win over relegated Real Valladolid.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Girona coach Míchel hospitalized for undisclosed medical issue
FILE - Girona's head coach Michel Sanchez attends the press conference ahead of the tomorrow's Champions League opening phase soccer match between AC Milan and Girona at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File) BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Girona coach Míchel Sánchez has been the hospitalized for an undisclosed medical reasons, the manager said Friday. Míchel said in a post on X that he had to be 'hospitalized and under observation for some days.' Advertisement That means he won't be available to coach Saturday's home game against Villarreal, with Girona fighting to avoid relegation. Girona is six points from the drop zone in 15th place with four games remaining. Neither Míchel nor the club specified his medical condition. 'I feel fine, under medical observation, and I am counting the days before I can get back to work and keep fighting until the end of the season,' he said. 'I am forced to watch the game from afar, but I will always be in contact with my staff.' Last season, Míchel coached the Catalan club to a historic third-placed finish. It has since struggled after its best players left or were sold in the offseason. ___ AP soccer:
