Girona boss Michel targeting historic second-place LaLiga finish

Girona are determined to end their remarkable LaLiga season on a high by wrapping up second place, manager Michel said on the eve of Friday's clash against Alaves.

Girona fought back to beat Barcelona 4-2 last weekend, a result that left Real Madrid with an unassailable lead in the standings as they clinched a record-extending 36th Spanish top-flight title.

Girona's best finish of 10th came in the 2017-18 and 2022-23 campaigns and the club, who are part owned by Abu Dhabi's City Football Group, now sit second with 74 points, one more than third-placed Barca with four games to play. Atletico Madrid are fourth on 67 points.

"The objective is to be second and we need to win all four games. Although game by game. Right now the team is above Barca and the objective is this," Michel told reporters on Thursday.

"We are now a rival of Barcelona because they are below us and we have the same objective. But until now it wasn't.

"If our objective is to compete against Madrid we will always be in a situation where we don't reach our objective and I don't think that's fair because Madrid, Barca and Atletico are made for other things. Now, we have earned the chance to fight against two of them."

The Spaniard said Girona, who will be without striker Cristhian Stuani and midfielders Borja Garcia and Jhon Solis through injury, cannot afford to take their foot off the gas as he believes 11th-placed Alaves will pose a threat at home.

"I expect a very difficult and complicated game, but I don't expect Alaves to be any different to what we've seen all season," Michel said.

"They have a spectacular transition, with players with a lot of speed. They are a very good team with a very good dynamic and very well-worked. That's why we have to be at our