The coach of Girona’s U-12 team reflects on his role in the tournament after reaching the quarterfinals of the International Carnaval Cup in an interview with Xavi Espinosa.

On a day full of football, emotions, and learning, we spoke with Girona’s coach, Met Borotau, who shared his views on the recent tournament his team participated in, his perspective on the upcoming match against Espanyol, and the progress his team is experiencing this season.

It’s a pleasure to see you here participating in this tournament. What are your impressions of your team’s performance?

“It’s a pleasure to participate in these kinds of tournaments. This is the third time I’ve come. The first as the coach of Girona, and the two previous times with Vilassar de Mar. Although it feels different now, the experience has been very positive. We’ve performed well, and most importantly, we’ve been improving match by match. The team’s image has been good, even though the ball hasn’t wanted to go in. There’s always room for improvement.”

Despite not achieving the desired result, it seems that you’ve seen growth in the team. What would you highlight about this participation?

“What I liked most was how the team reacted after Espanyol’s goal, which came in the 3rd minute. Despite that early blow, the team became strong with the ball. Sometimes scoring isn’t easy, but in this case, the boys showed great personality. Even though Espanyol pressured us, we dominated the game, and that is very positive. What we’ve seen in this tournament is an important evolution, which gives us a lot of strength for the last ten games of the season. Also, we are in the middle of a learning process, as it is the boys’ first year playing 11-a-side football.”

Looking ahead to the league, the next match is against Espanyol, one of the strongest teams in Catalonia and a direct rival in the league. How are you preparing for this challenge?

“That’s right, Espanyol is a great team, currently second in the league, and one of the best teams in Catalonia. We are one point ahead, which gives us a slight advantage, but it will definitely be a tough challenge. We’ll try to perform well and counter them with the ball. We need to be very focused, keep our calm, and be the protagonists at all times, as we always aim to be.”

In these kinds of tournaments, the format allows you to try new things. What experimental aspects have you tried with the players?

“Of course, since we play several matches in a single day, we try to experiment with new things. We’ve placed players in different contexts and positions. It’s not the same playing with a 3-0 lead, where you can experiment, as it is in the league, where we don’t always have that leeway. The boys also get the chance to experience playing against teams with a very high level. I’ve always enjoyed these types of tournaments, especially because of the spectacle they generate, and they’re always positive for everyone.”

Speaking of the players, what are your expectations for the immediate future of the team?

Coach: “The most important thing for us is to keep growing and learning. Even though it’s the boys’ first year in 11-a-side football, the team already shows a clear club identity: being the protagonists and trying new things. This tournament has been an excellent opportunity to continue developing that philosophy. The goal is to finish the season as well as possible and keep up the learning process. The boys still have a lot to improve, but we’re very happy with what we’ve achieved so far.”

Finally, what message do you have for your players?

“The most important thing is that they keep believing in the work we are doing. This learning process can be long and challenging, but we have a solid foundation to continue building on. I hope we can bring them many joys, and that the team continues to show the personality and courage we’ve seen in this tournament. And, of course, we hope to see each other next year, because this tournament always leaves us with a good feeling.”

With these words, the Vilassarenc coach made it clear his commitment to the growth and continuous improvement of Girona, as well as his confidence in the team’s future. Without a doubt, they will remain a team to watch in the upcoming matches and tournaments.