Girona coach Michel admits their hammering by Real Madrid was a reality check.

Real won 4-0, with the suspended Michel forced to watch from the stands.

He said: "We haven't been at the level. We try to play face to face, but with Madrid at its highest level we haven't reached it. Nothing to reproach the team. We are not at that level. It helps us to improve.

"The season is incredible this is not our League. We are missing a step or two. I never felt like we could win. But we are still in a dream."

"You have to have humility to know where we are. The objective was to compete with Madrid, but it hasn't given us a chance. The position we are in is privileged. We are growing beyond this result. There is nothing to object to.

"Only four or five teams in the world can compete with Madrid at that level.

"There is no better way to continue than to work in our League. We are not the fourth candidate. Our League is Athletic, Real, Betis, Valencia... Let's work to be in Europe."