Girona forced to distance themselves from Manchester City after securing Champions League qualification

On Saturday, Girona officially completed their fairytale. A 4-2 victory over Catalan rivals Barcelona has ensured qualification for next season’s Champions League – achievement that has been in the making over the course of this magical campaign for Michel Sanchez’s side.

Girona will join fellow City Football Group side Manchester City in the competition next season, although both being there will force Los Blanquivermells into restructuring their hierarchy, as reported by Relevo.

Ingo Bank, John MacBeath and Simon Cliff, who are all on the Board of Directors at both Girona and Man City, will be forced to step down from their roles at the Catalan side, as a way of showing that the Premier League giants do not make any decisions at Montilivi. Furthermore, Girona will need to prove that sporting director Quique Carcel is the sole director of their sporting department, and that Man City has no influence there either.

CFG will retain their 47% ownership of Girona, as they aren’t considered a majority owner so this continues to abide by UEFA rules. However, these changes are still seen as an agreed and amicable divorce between the Catalans and Man City.