Football.- Axel Witsel, on his signing for Girona: “It was the best option for me and my family”

BARCELONA, 19 (EUROPA PRESS)

The Belgian footballer Axel Witsel assured this Tuesday that signing for Girona FC was the “best option” for both him and his family, despite having offers from teams in Italy, but after speaking with the Girona club and coach Míchel Sánchez he felt “a connection” that made it clear to him that it was the place he had to go.

"The truth is that I was close to going to Italy. But when I spoke with Girona and with coach Míchel... Sometimes there are things that you feel, this connection that tells you in your head is the place where you have to go. And it was like that. The truth is that everything happened very quickly. The best option for me and my family was here. I still wanted to play in a top league. I am very happy," said the Belgian at the press conference presenting his signing.

Witsel has stated that he likes the style of play that Míchel proposes, this being a key aspect for his signing. "His way of seeing football. In the end it is a game that I like. Having possession, playing forward. When you lose it, you have to press and try to recover it as quickly as possible. These are concepts that I also think about as a player," he explained.

"So, I didn't need much time to tell the coach, well, I'm going. As I said, sometimes you feel that, this connection. And I think it's important," said the Belgian player, who arrives free after ending his contract with Atlético de Madrid.

Asked about the differences between both teams, the Belgian player highlighted the “way of playing” but not the “level of organization” within the club. "Yes, I am referring to the way of playing, yes. It is different from Atlético and here. But I would say that the organization within the club is like Atlético. They are not two clubs at the same level, but within the club they are," he said.

In the Madrid team, the Belgian footballer often played as a center back, although he has revealed that Míchel wants him to play in the center of the field. “They told me that they wanted me to play midfield, because three years ago at Atlético I played as a central defender, but their objective is for me to play midfield,” he stated.

"In the end I played almost my entire career in this position. So I'm used to it. And on the other hand, of course if the coach needs me at the back, I'm ready too. And that's what the coach has told me," he highlighted.

At Girona he will meet again with his “friend” Thomas Lemar, with whom he was a teammate on the Madrid team and with whom he spoke before signing for the Catalan club. "Thomas is a friend of mine. When I started talking to the club, I spoke with Thomas. He explained to me how it is inside, how it is organized, how the team works on a day-to-day basis. And then I made my decision," he said.

"I arrived physically well, but of course I lack training rhythm, of training with the team and of course, game minutes. But now we don't have time for anything. But every day I feel better. I work hard to make up for the time I lost. And I hope that against Villareal I can be with the team," explained the Belgian footballer, who hopes to be available in next Sunday's clash (7:30 p.m.) against Villarreal CF.

Finally, Witsel has stated that he wants to “take advantage of each day” and help the team in any way he can this season. "I want to take advantage of every day, every training session, every game. The objective is to help the team and try to play as much as I can. I think we have to play game by game calmly and see where we get to at the end of the season," he concluded.