Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing Girona boss Michel as a potential replacement for Eddie Howe but one former La Liga ace has concerns over a potential move to a Premier League giant.
Michel, one-time Argentina and Valencia forward Dario Felman argues, tends to do his best work when at the helm of rather ‘humble’ clubs. Teams like Rayo Vallecano and Girona, for whom rather limited expectations are relatively easy to exceed.
It almost goes without saying that Michel would find himself wrestling with a very different sort of challenge at Newcastle United, amid claims from Marca that The Magpies are looking ‘very seriously’ at the Madrid-born 48-year-old.
Newcastle may not have established themselves among the Premier League’s elite just yet, but the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund did not take the club off Mike Ashley’s hands without harbouring ambitions of silverware.
Newcastle United reportedly considering Girona boss
“I believe that Michel is a young manager who has been successful at the humble football clubs that he has managed. A good example would be at Rayo Vallecano who had a spectacular season when Michel was in charge,” Felman tells Tribal Football.
“It is in Michel’s DNA to work silently and humbly at the relatively modest clubs that he has managed so far.
“I believe he has united the dressing room at Girona with his quality as a manager and as a person too. He has credibility and he speaks from the heart when he is interviewed.
“Girona remind me of the Brazil team in the 1970s, which is spectacular! Each day, Girona are getting stronger.”
Thrilling victories over title rivals Barcelona and Atletico mean Girona, a second-tier team as recently as 2021/22, are level on points with Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga table, winning 15 and losing just one of their 19 matches while playing with a front-foot swagger more usually associated with their Catalonian neighbours.
Michel has also been tipped to eventually succeed Pep Guardiola at Girona’s English-based sister club Manchester City in some quarters.
Eddie Howe out, Michel in?
“Regarding Michel becoming manager of a big team, I’m not sure he would be capable of managing 22 big egos and an elite team president who insists on Michel winning the league too,” Felman adds.
“So far, Michel has worked really well with modest teams and created a fighting spirit with teams that are always fighting relegation. It’s a very different scenario where you manage an established team that is obliged to win big titles, year in and year out.”
Newcastle eased some of the pressure on Eddie Howe with a comfortable 3-0 FA Cup third round win over local rivals Sunderland last weekend.
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