Teammates refuse to play, goalkeeper with a 38-degree fever still has to take the field

Girona's circumstances in La Liga are turning disorderly as Livakovic declines to participate, aiming to leave, which compels Gazzaniga, despite having a 38-degree fever, to step onto the pitch amid the club's difficulties.

Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic has refused to play for Girona and expressed his desire to leave, prompting Girona’s coach Michel to publicly criticize him. Livakovic, currently on loan from Fenerbahce, explained that he needs to find playing opportunities elsewhere to maintain form for his goal of participating in the 2026 World Cup with the Croatian national team.

According to FIFA regulations, a player can be registered with three clubs in one season but is only allowed to play for two of them. Therefore, Livakovic decided not to play for Girona, leaving only backup goalkeeper Gazzaniga available. Meanwhile, Gazzaniga must play despite suffering from the flu and high fever, showing great sacrifice for the team in this difficult situation.

Coach Michel did not hide his frustration over Livakovic’s decision. He stated: "Livakovic is a wonderful person, but he has different plans and goals than Girona. He needs to play for the World Cup, not for Girona." Michel also admitted that Livakovic refused to play in the Copa del Rey match against Ourense earlier this month, forcing Gazzaniga to take the field despite his weak condition.

Furthermore, Coach Michel praised Gazzaniga for his dedication and sacrifice, and also defended him after mistakes made in the match against Elche. "At the moment, I have only one goalkeeper. Gazzaniga’s commitment is unquestionable," Michel shared. Gazzaniga made some unfortunate errors in the game against Elche, but Michel confirmed he stands by the goalkeeper because of his loyalty to the team.

After a highly successful previous season, Girona is now facing many challenges. The team currently sits 18th in the La Liga standings with only 12 points from 15 matches. Although desperate for a win to escape the danger zone, Girona cannot rely on Livakovic and must depend solely on Gazzaniga, who just endured a tough match.

This incident makes Girona’s fight for survival even harder. Michel’s team will face Real Sociedad on December 15, but given the current squad situation, Girona will face significant challenges in securing crucial points.