The premiere will be through the big door. He Peralada by Miquel Àngel Muñoz and Àlex Marsal will debut tomorrow against Girona in the Municipal verd-i-blanc (7.15 pm) in a friendly match that will also represent the presentation of those of Míchel Sánchez after becoming a whole First Division team. That’s why they knew it right away when the opportunity arose to face Montilivi, even if they had to start the preseason earlier than expected. The champagners started training last Tuesday to prepare for the duel and will then make one parenthesis until August 1st because the Third RFEF League begins on Sunday, September 11th. So now it’s time for “preseason preseason.”
So far, the first contact with the staff has been unbeatable. “If the first sessions leave bad feelings, we can fold,” jokes Muñoz. The coach is very pleased with the team’s response at the start of the preseason. “Note very good predisposition on the part of the group, both the players and the coaching staff. We are very excited to make this project a success. The feelings are good because there is an attitude and everyone is attentive to everything “, he assures. Given that it is early, Peralada’s priority is the friendly against the white-and-reds: “We consider that starting a week before, we will have a minimum to be able to compete. We are very excited to play against Girona in the debut as a Primera team. That he can come here to play with us is a source of pride and honor.
Muñoz explains that the agreement with Girona was easy because “there is a very good relationship between the two clubs”. “We proposed it and Girona immediately accepted. I think it’s positive for everyone. It coincided that they had also started the pre-season and the match is before they go out to play against Benfica and Napoli; fortunately we have a good field of grass (recently a lawn treatment has been done to make it in the best condition); and, in addition, to present itself as a new Primera team in the Girona counties and against a Girona team like us is good “, says the coach. Both he and his second, Àlex Marsal, had been in Girona’s youth football. There they became friends and today they have met again in Peralada. Muñoz arrives at the champagne club from Banyoles in the Primera Catalana, while Marsal does so after closing a long period in Girona where for the last five seasons he had led the youth A of the Division of Honor. This is, therefore, Marsal’s first experience in amateur football and as a second coach.
“Making the leap alongside Miquel Àngel and in a club like Peralada, which is committed to a project with experienced and young youth players, was the best option to make the change,” said Marsal. For his part, Muñoz adds that “we both agreed because we come from the same football mother: Girona.” “We have quite similar thoughts regarding the vision of the game and the team mentality. It was not difficult for us to agree “, he points out.
In this sense, tomorrow will be shown against Girona the first brushstroke of the team they want despite having had few training sessions and the group still has to adapt to their style. “It simply came to our notice then a Peralada who will want to do things right and show people that he also has his level. Obviously, it is a game to enjoy and prepare for what lies ahead which is very exciting and exciting. We hope that a lot of people will come because it is our day of Festa Major in the pre-season “, says Muñoz.
The coach has a clear premise: “We want to be competitive in every game to aspire to win it. From here, we will try not to look inferior to any rival in the category. We will work to have chances in all matches. Then the championship will put us in our place, but we have a lot of enthusiasm and confidence with the players. They entrust it to us ». “The goal that the club has set for us is make a competitive team, who is a leader in the category for his game ». One more season, therefore, will aspire to occupy the top of the standings in Third RFEF.
The Peralada has made a lot of operations lately to have the staff ready and some new face is still expected to be presented in the coming days. “We are just outlining the squad. A good number of players continue (8) and the additions will give us strength, enthusiasm and ambition. They are players who have a lot of room and way to go. I hope they can show it this year. Apart from working with players like Alan Baró, Joan Tomàs, Sergi Romero, Lluís Micaló, Sergi Gómez, Marc Medina, David Aroca, etc., it is a pleasure. They are absolutely inclusive people who care about helping the youngest a lot and to us, the coaches, they make it very easy for us. We are delighted. Sometimes you might think that experienced players are better off, but they are identified with the project, ”said Muñoz. “Not only do they come to train and leave, but they come to grow the club. It certainly gives us a plus “, adds Marsal. In addition, the youth team will continue to be trusted: “Between six and seven players are doing the pre-season with us. Opportunities must also be won by them because we only put them in the shop window. They have to work on it and show us that they have the level and the capacity to stay ”. The club announced yesterday the renewal of goalkeeper Ian Doréwho joins the first team after playing on loan at La Jonquera last season.
