In ten days, in the Catalan First Division duel, Barça and Girona will show off the logo of the historic solidarity program every December, La Marató de TV3. This week the special team shirts were presented in an event with the presence of the two presidents, Joan Laporta and Delfí Geli. “Let's see if you loosen up a little bit because you're going very strong,” the top Blaugrana leader said sympathetically to the president of Girona. But behind the joke and the apparent cordiality of the comment hides a real concern that has been growing during fourteen days of the League.
Before the season even started, Girona I love me had already gone beyond the title of the sardana and had gone from being a city motto to a feeling shared by many football fans. In fact, Girona was already becoming the second team in Catalonia, despite the challenges from Espanyol. An honorary title loaded with empathy and understanding towards a club that is new to almost everything. Especially when managing success. Few expected – both inside and outside the club – the first stretch of competition that Girona has done, comfortably installed at the top of the table, sharing, and even monopolizing alone, 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 give up a part of their esteem to the other Catalan First Division team. And at this point, what now? Girona has shed the innocent sympathy of the newcomer to dress in a skin of hunger, reliability and real threat that exudes danger. And now what will these half-blaugrana, half-red-and-white hearts do? They had eagerly bet on Míchel's team to do great things, but it was a bet with conditions. Never at the expense of Barça's successes. Those Barça members who are also members of Girona would have little imagined reaching December with this clash of interests.
I'm not talking, far from it, about all Barça fans. There are those who already have it very clear. Appealing to history, Barça is a choice for life, while the emergence of Girona may be temporary and, therefore, in the face of the dilemma, the Blaugrana's emotional weight sustained over time takes precedence. There are also those who are clear in the opposite direction. Girona's dream may be ephemeral, unique in its young life, while Barça already has many titles and, in fact, is the current League champion. And since this Barça's game generates more doubts than certainties, Girona's happy football would well deserve to make a splash in the Leicester style. Those who are clear about it. Those who still doubt, beloved divided hearts, have ten days to decide. And, if not, they will always be left with the dull conformity of a tie.
