Bordalas clears up his clash with Angel Torres before San Mames

Getafe CF

The Getafe face this Sunday their trip to San Mamés, where they will take on Athletic after several days marked by tension following the defeat to Lugano. José Bordalás wanted to lower the noise and insisted that his comments were not aimed at Ángel Torres.

The blue-and-on coach confirmed that he spoke with the president both on Friday and Saturday and has put an end to the controversy. He also explained how the dressing room is doing and reviewed the situation of several players ahead of the match.

Bordalás explains the controversy with Ángel Torres

Bordalás downplayed the public discussion and shifted the focus to the five-goal rout they conceded against the Swiss side.

"The problem or concern about the statements is not the statements themselves from last Thursday. The problem is that they put five goals past us and that worries all of us, and for me, as a coach, that is what hurts".

On Ángel Torres' response, the coach said both of them have spoken and that the president knows the reason for his comments.

"There is no need to go into details. As I said, what matters is not the statements, mine or his, but what happened, which hurt all of us: him, me, the fans, the players... in short, everyone. I spoke with him both yesterday and today. He knows perfectly well why I made those comments, which at no point were directed at him and, therefore, everything has been more than talked through. Our relationship is fantastic and it will continue to be because he knows the affection I have for him, the relationship we have, and that relationship and that affection will be eternal, both towards him, towards Getafe and towards our fans".

The coach later insisted that the conversation with the president served to clarify what had happened.

"Well, I told my colleague that the president knows perfectly well why I made those comments. When he spoke, he did not know exactly whether he had heard them or not. In the end, in some way they tell him and they pass it on to him, and everything has been more than clarified and I am not going to keep insisting on what happened. I repeat again that our relationship is fantastic. We have been talking since yesterday and this morning he was at training. In short, the affection is mutual and our relationship will be eternal".

Asked about promises that may not have been fulfilled, Bordalás avoided going into depth and turned his attention back to the clash with Athletic.

"Everything has been clarified; I have nothing else to say, because the focus is on tomorrow's match against Athletic, which is a very difficult game. We have a great responsibility and we have to try to get a victory in a tough stadium against an opponent of a lot of stature, and we are focused on that. I think everything has been said and clarified more than enough".

The dressing room is already thinking about Athletic

The team also analyzed the defeat to Lugano. Bordalás acknowledged that the blow was significant, although he says the group has already moved on.

"Well, okay, we talked, we analyzed. Obviously, they are hurt, as we all are, because it was a very painful and unexpected defeat. We have moved on and now we are focused on tomorrow's match at San Mamés against Athletic. The focus is on that and we are focused on it because there has practically been no time for almost anything. And that is our responsibility: to try to improve in every way and make sure what happened last Thursday does not happen again. But that is already history; we are focused on tomorrow's match".

The coach said he is doing well despite the controversy and once again highlighted the good atmosphere with Ángel Torres.

"No, I am fine, I am great, I am great. Don't be so worried, because I am great. We are great, the president and I. We are in a very healthy atmosphere and, honestly, I understand your question, but we are doing brilliantly. Thank you very much, I appreciate your concern, but we are not worried at all".

Enes Ünal points to the match; Zaid Romero and Mangala out

One of the positive pieces of news has been the status of Enes Ünal. The forward took a knock that raised fears of an injury, but he has been able to complete training normally and the club believes he will be available.

"The truth is we all got scared because the tackle was very ugly and the gesture of his ankle was very striking. We thought it could be an injury but, fortunately, he has been in pain, but today he trained normally and we trust that he will be with the team tomorrow. Also, he is a player, like almost all of them, with a lot of character, a lot of personality, and he has come to Getafe to help the team and he would have to be very bad not to help the team. He will be fine".

By contrast, Zaid Romero and Mangala will not make the game. Both are in the final stage of their respective recoveries, although the short time between matches has led the coaching staff not to force their return.

"Well, the truth is we expected them to be available for this match, but in the end they are not going to be. They are already in the final stretch of their recovery and joining the group so they can work normally, but with so little time that we have had, it was also a very high risk and we preferred to wait a few days. But they are already doing quite well and it is always good news to recover players who have been injured".

No excuses for the fixture schedule

Getafe face another appointment with little room for rest. Bordalás admitted that the preparation time has been reduced, but he ruled out using it as an argument.

"We have had very little time but you know that I am not one for excuses. I am sorry, it is absolutely useless. Change the chip quickly and focus on the match. We know we have not had much time, but the team is fired up, the team has that anger because we are coming off an adverse and painful result, and the team wants to recover their feelings as soon as possible. I can see the players are well, with a good attitude and a good mindset, and my confidence in them is maximum".

The choice of the starting XI will depend on the minutes accumulated and the condition of the players, as the coach explained.

"We are going to try to field the most competitive XI, taking into account many variables, especially minutes, and that is what we have been trying to do in the last few weeks. Above all because we are going to play matches that are very, very close together and with a lot of demand. Tomorrow's game is one with a lot of demand and we will try to give the players who have the most freshness and who are in the best condition".

Bordalás also does not set any competition above the others. He defended that the Getafe must compete with the same responsibility in LALIGA, the Copa del Rey and the Conference.

"We are not going to forget absolutely anything because we have a responsibility. We also have to think about our fans, who are very excited in all competitions, obviously, and we are professionals. When LALIGA comes, as is the case tomorrow, we have to put all our energy, all our attention, and compete at the maximum. When the Copa del Rey comes, the same, and when we have to play the Conference again, then so on and so forth because that is our spirit, and as everyone knows, I am very, very demanding, and it is an obligation as a professional. And the players are aware that we have a responsibility and that our performance has to increase and grow and improve gradually".