In ten days' time, in the Catalan Primera duel, Barça and Girona will wear the logo of the historic solidarity program every December, TV3's La Marató. This week, the teams' special shirts were presented in an event with the presence, among others, of the two presidents, Joan Laporta and Delfí Geli. "Let's see if you loosen up a little because you're going very strong", said the top Blaugrana leader to the president of Girona in a sympathetic tone. But behind the joke and the apparent cordiality of the comment hides a real restlessness that has been growing little by little during fourteen league days.
Before even starting the season, Girona m enamora had already gone beyond the title of the sardana and had gone from being a city slogan to a sentiment shared by many football fans. In fact, Girona started already becoming the second team in Catalonia, despite Espanyol's objections. An honorary title loaded with empathy and understanding towards a club new to almost everything. Especially in the management of success. Few expected - both inside and outside the club - the first stretch of competition that Girona has made, installed comfortably at the top of the classification, sharing and even monopolizing the leadership of the League .
The great performance of Montilivi's team has generated a certain emotional dilemma for those Barcelona fans who had decided to cede part of their footballing esteem to the other Catalan Primera team. And, having reached this point, now what? Girona has stripped off the innocent friendliness of the newcomer to dress in a skin of hunger, reliability and real menace that oozes danger. And now what are they doing, these half blue-and-white half white-and-red hearts? They had bet enthusiastically for Míchel's team to do great things, but it was a bet with conditions. Never at the expense of Barça's successes. Those members of Barça who are also members of Girona would hardly have imagined arriving in December with this clash of interests.
I'm not talking, not by a long shot, about all Barça fans. There are those who already have it very clear. Appealing to history, Barça is a choice for life, while the irruption of Girona can be fleeting and, therefore, faced with the dilemma, Barça commands the emotional weight sustained over time. There are also those who are clear about it in the opposite sense. Girona's dream may be ephemeral, unique in its young life, while Barça already has many titles in its palmares and, in fact, is the reigning League champion. And since the game of this Barça generates more doubts than certainties, Girona's cheerful football deserves to be given the Leicester-style bell. Those who are clear about this. Those who are still in doubt, dear divided hearts, have ten days to make up their minds. And, if not, they will always be left with the bland conformity of a draw.
