After dishing a thorough humiliation to Valencia, Sid Lowe on Getafe:
It is his example, his obsession. When Bordalás arrived just over three years ago, Getafe were near the foot of the second division. He took them to promotion, then to eighth, then fifth. Now, they’re safe again with 15 weeks to go. Intense, demanding, a little mad but with method, once seen as unsuited to the first division, too unsubtle for the top flight, what he has done is extraordinary. He has revived them all, moulding what might seem to be a motley crew into a hugely impressive football team, achieving beyond their wildest dreams.
Between them, his players have played more seasons in the second division than first and have experienced more relegations than they have winners’ medals, three times as many as they have league titles – and none of those are in Europe’s five biggest leagues. Only two of them are even in Europe, in fact: there’s an apertura and a clausura with River Plate, a Cameroonian title with Cotton Sport, two leagues with Dynamo Kyiv, two in Kazakhstan and that’s that. Yet here they are, third: ahead of Atlético and Sevilla, now five points and an unassailable head-to-head record ahead of Valencia, their 21st century rivals for whom, like most first division teams, they should be no match.
I thought it was remarkable when Getafe finished fifth last season, being deprived of a place in the Champions League on the last day of the league campaign. I’d be lying if I said I expected them to repeat. Remarkably, they’ve only gone on and got better this season. For those who still underestimate what a brilliant manager can achieve with any level of player, Bordalas should make you reconsider your opinions. There are some tough fixtures ahead, but with Sevilla and Valencia getting worse by the week, I am betting on Getafe to fulfil their Champions League dream this season.