Michel proud of Girona UCL debut

Girona should be proud of its Champions League debut, coach Michel said after his side held Paris St Germain at bay until late in Wednesday's game, only to fall to a 1-0 defeat after a blunder from goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

Girona, Spain's surprise package of last season, managed to neutralize PSG's attack, before the French side finally broke the deadlock when Nuno Mendes' low cross slipped through Gazzaniga's grasp and into the net.

Despite the defeat, the Girona manager praised his team's effort and the performance of his goalkeeper.

"Now, in the dressing room, people are a little bit down, I told them that we have to be proud of the game we played," Michel told reporters.

"PSG subdued us, Gazzaniga made some good saves. There were two or three that could have been goals. We have to recognize that their victory is deserved, but we are proud of the way we worked.

"Let's see if we get another chance to come to Paris next year."

The Spaniard admitted his players were nervous in their first taste of Europe's elite club competition, but he was satisfied with their game as they faced a top-level team.

"At the start of the game we were very nervous, you could see that. But as the first half went on, we found personality, commitment, attitude," he said.

"In the second half, we were tired, PSG pressed us more, we were continually defending a lot. We passed our first experience in the Champions League, we competed against a great team where the pressure can stiffen you, and yet, the team delivered a good performance."

Girona faces Feyenoord in its second Champions League fixture.

Like 'childbirth'

Paris St Germain manager Luis Enrique admitted that he did not enjoy watching its tense late win over Girona.

"I think we were superior, but Girona played us in circles and made us dizzy. At halftime, we said that if we didn't press, we were going to suffer," Enrique told Movistar Plus.

"We had to win, and it was very difficult.

"It was very difficult. I told (Girona manager) Michel that this was worse than giving birth, with all due respect."

Under the new Champions League format, teams play eight matches against eight different opponents, with the top eight sides in the 36-team league automatically advancing to the last 16, and the next 16 playing a further knockout round.

Reuters