Victory and fatigue
Getafe beat Racing 2-0 on September 20, with David Soria saving a penalty by Andrés Martín in the 76th minute and Enes Ünal scoring in the 81st. The win, the club’s first league victory of the season, was marred by obvious fatigue. The eleven starters, who also played on September 17 against Partizán, returned to the pitch with only three days of rest.
Rotation and youngsters
The players who did not change were: Soria, Djené, Zaid Romero, Johan Mojica, Orel Mangala, Francho Serrano, Ramón Terrats, Martín Satriano and Ünal. Only Abdel Abqar gave up his spot to Saba Sazonov, and Kiko Femenía, suspended, to Andrés García. The first substitution came in the 84th minute, when Uruguayan Sebastián Boselli replaced García. Bordalás explained that the lack of rotation is because the bench is filled with youth players (Óscar López, Diego Ferrer, Ebrahima Drammeh, Curro Burgos and Alberto Risco) who still lack the experience for critical moments.
Bordalás’s warning
The Alicante manager has warned for weeks that the squad needs reinforcements. “We lack wide players, we are short on wingers, and we need central defensive positions,” Bordalás said. He pointed out the absence of Javi Muñoz, Berrocal, Neyou and Sancris, and the overload on Francho Serrano, who has had to play almost all matches since his arrival.
The club is working to bring in the necessary players and avoid the short-term fallout from the lack of depth. The next fixture will be on September 24 against Partizán in Belgrade, with Getafe defending a 3-1 advantage from the first leg. The schedule, with three games in eight days, demands a squad that can breathe.
Bordalás thanked Ángel Torres for his effort and trusts that the final days of the transfer window will bring the reinforcements he demands. Getafe is already competing as if it were in April, but it needs a deeper squad to keep winning.
