Girona manager Míchel Sánchez has openly admitted that the club is facing a real issue in goal after Dominik Livakovic made it clear he doesn’t want to play for the team anymore.
Míchel didn’t hide his frustration, stating that Livakovic told him straight up that he does not want to be part of the team, as reported by sport expert Fabrizio Romano via his official X account.
He said:
Girona manager Míchel: Livakovic wants to leave. He doesn’t want to play here, his priority is the World Cup. Gazzaniga had to play while he was ill. because Livakovic doesn’t want to play. I’m very angry about this situation.
Míchel explained that the goalkeeper is more concerned with finding regular minutes elsewhere so he can make Croatia’s squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, following their recent qualification for the competition, which was reported by Softfootball. Playing a role in Girona’s La Liga survival doesn’t seem to be on his agenda.
Míchel also revealed that Paulo Gazzaniga, the only senior goalkeeper he currently has, played the recent Copa del Rey match against Ourense with a fever.
Backup keeper Vladyslav Krapyvtsov is still injured, leaving Girona with almost no real cover. If anything happens to Gazzaniga, the club would be forced to throw young goalkeeper Andreev into action. He has already been called up to the first team, but he’s still inexperienced, and the timing honestly couldn’t be worse.
Livakovic, who arrived on loan in the summer, now seems set to leave Girona without playing a single competitive minute.
Míchel stressed that it wasn’t a technical decision at all. He actually planned to play Livakovic in the Copa del Rey, but the player simply refused.
Girona find themselves in the relegation zone after 14 matchdays, following a loss to Barcelona and a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid earlier in the season. The team now heads into a crucial away game against Real Sociedad, and with only one fit goalkeeper available, a winter signing looks almost certain as the January window approaches.
