partnership. Mata’s 13 goals by the
middle of March was a record for a
player in his first season in Spain’s top
flight and took him to the brink of a Spain
call-up. The 36-year-old Molina, who
only came to professional football at the
age of 25, became the oldest player to
score 10 league goals in a Liga season
since Ferenc Puskas.
The pair have been brought together
by coach Jose Bordalas, a veteran of the
second tier who led Alaves to promotion
in 2016 – only to be fired because his
methods were thought to be effective
in the Segunda but deemed unsuitable
for the top flight.
The 4-4-2 system employed by
Bordalas tends to feature high pressing,
direct passing and quick counter-attacks
that take the pressure off the defensive
backline. While critics have focused on
Getafe’s physical approach and lack of
possession football, Bordalas has been
quick to stress the amount of work
undertaken on the training ground.
“I’ve never put more hours in when
coaching a team before,” he explains.
And the results have been sensational.
When Bordalas took charge of Getafe in
September 2016 the team were second
bottom of the second tier. But they went
up, finished eighth in their first season
back in the top tier and are now fourth.
The players have clearly bought into
Bordalas’ wholehearted approach, with
Portuguese left-back Vitorino Atunes
stating: “We work to the limit, and you
can see that in the games. We play the
way we train.
“The team is like a family. You should
see the relationship between the team,
the coaching staff and the fans.”
Dismissing critics of the team’s playing
style, Molina insists: “There are no egos in
this team. A team of thugs doesn’t reach
this high in the league.”
Getafe’s direct approach will be tested
if and when they take part in a European
campaign next term. Both their previous
European adventures were in the Europa
League: beating AEK Athens and Benfica
before losing to Bayern Munich in the
quarter-finals in 2008, but failing to
get out of their group in 2010.
Much has happened since then;
relegation followed by an immediate
return to the top tier and now, against
the odds, a challenge for a Champions
League place.
John Holmesdalefree agent in February last year, having
spent more than six months without a
club after leaving Crystal Palace.
Fellow midfielder Nemanja Maksimovic
was edged out by Valencia, while keeper
David Soria, not wanted by Sevilla, has
defied predictions that he would struggle
to replace Vicente Guaita, who left for
Crystal Palace last summer. By mid March
he was second only to Atletico Madrid’s
Jan Oblak in the race for the Zamora
trophy – the prize that is awarded to the
Liga goalkeeper with the lowest goals-
to-games ratio.
Other signings have included
Uruguayan defender Leandro Cabrera
from relegated Cotrone in Italy, and
Dimitri Foulquier, who is on loan from
Watford after spending last season at
Strasbourg. Full-back Damian Suarez
previously suffered relegation in
successive seasons with Gijon and Elche.
Togolese defender Djene Dakonam
cost €2.5m from Belgian side Sint-
Truiden in 2017 but has more than
held his own and has been linked with
a move to Barcelona.
As for their strike force, Mata and
Molina have been a revelation; only
Barca’s pairing of Lionel Messi and Luis
Suarez has been a more productive
Productive...Jaime
Mata (right) and
Jorge MolinaWholehearted...
Jose Bordalas“A team of thugs doesn’t
reach this high in the league”
Getafe striker Jorge MolinaPEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWS