Michel upset with toothless Girona's defeat at 10-man Mallorca

Girona coach Michel appeared upset with his side's display in a 2-1 loss at 10-man Mallorca in LaLiga on Saturday, condemning their tendency to control possession over long spells without purpose.

Girona were unable to profit from an early lead and their opponents' going down to 10 men in the first half, extending their winless run in all competitions to six games.

"We weren't able to attack well against 10 players," Michel told a press conference.

"We made a mistake and they made it 2-1 and we resorted more to hurrying than to football to turn it around. We came into the game well but after the sending off we were too rash, we didn't create superiority."

Mallorca forward Cyle Larin took advantage of Girona's defensive error to seal the win after the break, having cancelled out Donny van de Beek's seventh-minute opener in the first half.

"The lack of intensity is always what worries me the most," Michel said.

"In attack and defence you have to pin down the opponent and go for it. Passing the ball around without being vertical is not the football I want for my team, I don't like what I've seen.

"I'm worried about that mentality of having the ball without generating and the lack of connection, only trying to create individual situations."

Girona's only attempt on target was their opening goal.

"I understand that my players want to do well, but we did poorly," Michel continued.

"We didn't look the opponent in the face, we had few vertical situations. Football is played collectively and we didn't play well ... The situation is not good."

CHRISTMAS BREAK

After hosting second-bottom Real Valladolid on Friday, Girona return to league action on January 11 at lowly Deportivo Alaves.

"We'll see if the Christmas break is good for us," Michel added, with his team also struggling in the Champions League this season, having lost 1-0 at home to Liverpool in midweek.

"(For now) I'm thinking that we have an important game coming up and I'm worried ... We do have the squad to fight for Europe, but (lately) I haven't found a way for the team to play well and be able to fight for this.

"We are capable, of course, but right now I haven't found the key and the responsibility is mine. I have to improve and make the players attack and defend together, not individually."

Girona, who are ninth in LaLiga and 10 points outside the top four, are in their maiden Champions League campaign after a third-placed finish behind Real Madrid and Barcelona last term.