Bordalás: "For me, football is not about long possessions"

When Getafe announced the dismissal of Quique Sánchez Flores, a man began to reflect. José Bordalás Jiménez (Alicante, 1964), who had spent eleven months saying “no” to offers from a multitude of clubs, knew immediately that he had to make a decision. At first he rejected the request of Ángel Torres, but after a second attempt by the Azulón president he ended up falling. Today he visits Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, being third from last, with an eye on permanence and tension through the roof. “I decided to come more by heart than by head,” he admits in a chat with EL MUNDO.

During this league break, Oliva has been brought to the squad. Has it been a bit of a boot camp? No, no… To form a group, to be together. It is a very important moment, a delicate and complicated situation, and being together, even for a few days, is good to get to know each other up close. Many people have been surprised by his return. Anyone who knows me knows: It has been one more decision with the heart than with the head, because of the love I have for the club, the president, the fans…. It is something that has surprised a lot of people due to the complicated situation Getafe is in, even more so when I had said no to different teams that were in a better situation and gave me more time. My idea was to start a project from scratch, but hey, in the end your head tells you one thing and your heart asks for another. They were in a hurry, I was at home… and i am like that. I have made this decision with the consequences that it entails but because of the love I have for them. I had already had many of the players, I know them personally, I know they are having a hard time…. And within my possibilities, humbly, if I can help you… I know that it will be difficult, that there is little time left. How was the process? Did Ángel Torres call you directly? Yes, he called me directly. In addition to being my president for several years, he is a great friend and we have a good relationship. At first I said no, because I have had nothing to do with the team, with this moment they are going through, and there was very little left to finish the League, but the insistence and affection, seeing them in a hurry, talking to people of the club and with players… I saw myself with the feeling, I am like that. Some see it as an act of bravery and daring and others see it differently. When you get to the locker room, what do you tell them and what surprises you? I knew many from my previous stage and others from having faced them, and the truth is that It is a nice dressing room, serious and professional people. I found them worried, going through a delicate moment when a week and a little earlier the situation was different and everything was optimistic. That’s what soccer is all about. I spoke with them and I made it clear that I am here to help and that they are the ones who have to try to move forward with the help of the fans, but that there is little time to react. Now it is more head than soccer? Yes? The work is already done. There is no time to work at a physical level, there is little time to work on details that you want at a tactical level? I come to collaborate because of the affection I have for them. Few things can be changed in a short period of time, but the emotional work is fundamental… How do you get into the players’ heads, by dialoguing a lot with them, knowing their worries and concerns, trying to take everything negative out of their heads. That is our job. I see them in a good mood and predisposition, aware of what is at stake.. Often people talk about your squads as ‘Bordalás’ army’. Do you see your players as soldiers? I have always seen them more like sons, because of the age difference. Many are like my children, I try to help them and that’s what I’ve always done. When a player improves and grows, like Cucurella or Olivera, it is a satisfaction and a source of pride. What happens is that certain adjectives are always thrown around a coach by fans and the media? Do you fear that a possible relegation could affect your professional career? No. The word fear is not in my vocabulary. Even if relegation were to happen, I am not responsible for anything, my career will be immaculate all the same. There will be, as always, critical voices, and others that won’t, but it’s part of being exposed. Whatever happens, my cache and my career will remain intact.. A professional cannot be held responsible when he arrives at a site for the last month. I come here to try to help and if we get it great, I'll be happy for the club and the fans more than for myself. I don't think of any other possibility. Do you think you are being criticized more than you deserve? I pay little attention to all that. They try to condition. In the last home game (against Celta), there is talk that time has been wasted, and it turns out that there is a team, Getafe, that has shot 14 times on goal, that has neutralized the rival, important players like Aspas, Veiga, Larsen or Galán… Getafe will have done something right when the fair result would have been a 4-0. Nothing can be done against it.. What we have left is to smile, I will not insist. People who understand football, those who have been in this for years, important people, have always been able to recognize my work and the way of interpreting football. What is it to play football well? Each one understands it in a different way. Playing football well is being superior to your opponent in many important aspects. Being in control of the game, generating more chances, minimizing the opponent, increasing your strengths…. My concept of football is very extensive, but for me football is not long possessions, which does not mean that my teams do not try. We did not shoot 14 times on goal against Celta without having the ball. But of course, when you create a mantra around something, it is a way of conditioning. How has this year been without training? I have been lucky enough to analyze other leagues and teams more extensively, enrich myself by watching other football, share with colleagues…. When you are involved in the day to day you do not have time. it has helped me a lot. You see everything more coldly and it has made me think a little about the things that I should improve. I've been quiet, with family, with friends…. That football absorbs a lot and I have always been very passionate, perhaps that is why I have made this decision. Any situation or team that has surprised you during these months? I have always tried to update myself and stay up-to-date, even to be ahead in some aspects of the game. If we look back, years ago I predicted the mutation that football was going to suffer. I'm not surprised by some of the things that are important now. That's why I try to always be prepared, be alert. That makes you make fewer mistakes. Ancelotti, your rival this matchday and one of the coaches you have visited, talks a lot about modern football, less positional and more physical. Is that what you mean? Yes, too. For years, I have tried to get my teams to have a very high physical level, that has helped us achieve important things while being in modest teams. It is clear that Ancelotti is wise in football, a coach who has won everything. Is it a good time to face Madrid? It's never a good time (laughs).. But the calendar is what it is. We know that it is a great team with an excellent coach and it is always difficult. We will try to play a good game and see if we are able to get a good result. The Madrid players know that they have to win absolutely everything. It’s his mentality. How do you stop Vinicius, it’s not easy. We see day after day that he is tremendously difficult to stop. He is in incredible form as are many of his teammates. He has been demonstrating this throughout the season, we have tried to mark him in different ways and he has almost always come out on top. Especially because he is a player who repeats efforts, who tries again, again and again, and again and again? That’s very difficult for anyone. You are going to fight relegation with Valencia, your former team. Was it unfair to you there? I only have nice memories and words of gratitude. People were grateful for my commitment and my work. The season the team had, despite being one of the weakest squads in recent years, reaching the final of the Cup, which we lost on penalties…. The fans love me and I wish them the best. Now they are in the situation they are in and I’m sorry for that, but right now my thought is to put all my energy into making sure Getafe are the ones who manage to save the category. Right now I’m not seeing Valencia as a rival because we don’t have to face them.