Liverpool coach Arne Slot highlighted on Monday, during a press conference ahead of the Champions League match against Girona, that last season the Catalan team was "very close to being Leicester," as they competed for the LaLiga title, and praised the "excellent management" of Míchel Sánchez.

Girona, a team with identity

Slot pointed out that this season Girona is "improving beyond what the results might suggest" and that they have had "bad luck" in the Champions League, except for the defeat against PSV (4-0). Despite this, he assured that his players will need to be "at their best level" at Montilivi, given that the opponent has a "very interesting footballing idea," particularly with the "very free positioning" of the full-backs under Míchel's leadership—something he noted wasn’t as common in football and is now being adopted by other teams.

The Liverpool coach, who remains unbeaten in both the Champions League and the Premier League, highlighted Dutch player Daley Blind as one of Girona's key players, not only for his performance but also for the national connection they share.

Securing qualification

Slot emphasized the importance of finishing among the top eight teams in the Champions League group stage under the new format, as this allows them to skip an intermediate round. "We need another victory to secure qualification, and Montilivi is our first opportunity to achieve it," the coach stated.

Additionally, he ruled out the possibility of squad rotations, arguing that Liverpool did not play Saturday's derby against Everton due to its postponement because of a storm. "All the players are fit," he said, guaranteeing that he will field "a very strong starting eleven" against Girona.

The match is shaping up to be a crucial encounter for both teams, with Liverpool looking to consolidate their lead in the group and Girona fighting to stay in contention in a competition where luck hasn’t been on their side.