Getafe’s manager, Jose Bordalas, has urged his Barcelona counterpart, Hansi Flick, to concentrate on his own team’s performance ahead of their encounter on Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum. Getafe, known as Los Azulones, are set to host Barcelona at 16:15, in a fixture where the Catalan giants have historically found it challenging.
Following a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Real Sociedad, Getafe has climbed to sixth place in the standings, significantly easing any relegation concerns with six games remaining. The team is currently on track to secure a European competition spot.
“We’ve earned the right not to have to dwell on the standings, naturally. It’s crucial at this stage of the championship,” Bordalas stated to Diario AS. “We’ve always possessed a winning mentality, as you know me. That’s what I endeavor to instill in my players, not just in competition, but daily. Fortunately, we’ve amassed a considerable number of points and earned the privilege of not needing to scrutinize the league table. We were in a precarious position regarding points and our standing, and now it’s time to relish this final stretch of the championship.”
Facing Barcelona Without Key Players
In addition to facing a Getafe side in good form, Barcelona will be without the services of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. Yamal was ruled out for the remainder of the season on Thursday. Bordalas expressed disappointment regarding the injury.
“There’s no sense of relief. As you correctly pointed out, I always want the best players on the pitch, without a doubt. Beyond being a coach, I’m a fan, and I want to witness the finest talent competing. We’ve all experienced such situations; teams always have players sidelined. Barcelona boasts a fantastic squad, one of the premier teams in Europe, and they are comfortably leading the league by a significant margin over the second-place team, and deservedly so. They are a formidable team, and we must play with immense focus and be at our absolute best if we aim for a positive outcome.”
“I didn’t have any particular thoughts. Whenever a player suffers an injury, I feel a sense of sadness, regardless of whether they are from my team or any other. I’ve played football myself, and I understand the significance of injuries. Unfortunately, I had to end my playing career at a young age, at 17, due to serious injuries, and I know firsthand what that entails. When a player gets injured, and especially Lamine, I feel deeply for him because players go through incredibly difficult times.”
‘Hansi Flick Should Speak About His Own Team’
Bordalas was also questioned about Getafe’s ability to neutralize Barcelona’s impact in recent matches.
“We don’t aim to provoke anyone. We strive to compete at our highest level and, with the support of our incredible fans and the advantage of playing at home, we always aim for positive results. We are fully aware that facing rivals of FC Barcelona’s caliber is never an easy task.”
Recently resurfaced comments from Bordalas regarding Flick had been brought up. The German manager had criticized officiating and the perceived lack of protection for his players, to which Bordalas had previously responded by calling such remarks “excuses.” He had stated, “It’s very easy to be a gentleman when you win, but you have to be one when you lose too.” When asked about these statements again, the Getafe manager reiterated his stance.
“I don’t typically make such statements; it’s you journalists who bring them up. That was after our last game here at the Coliseum, but that belongs to the past. I maintain a good relationship with all coaches, and there are no issues. The sole request I have is for everyone to maintain focus; each individual must concentrate on their own team and not on the opponent. That’s my approach, and it’s what all coaches should do: discuss our own teams and refrain from talking about others.”
Barcelona will visit the Coliseum on Saturday at 16:15 CEST, hoping to maintain their nine-point lead at the top of La Liga. It’s worth noting that Barcelona has not defeated Getafe away from home since 2019.
