Unwatchable or irresistible? The manager purists love to hate

The Anti-Football Accusations – And Why They Miss the Point

Critics have called his football “ugly,” “anti-football,” even “violent” in tone. Barcelona legends Xavi and Setien openly criticised his Getafe side’s aggressive style. Inaki Williams slammed the “dark arts.” Referees prepare for battles of attrition.

But what’s easily overlooked is this: Bordalás never pretended to be Pep Guardiola.

He doesn’t trade in aesthetic ideals. He deals in efficiency, structure, and competitive edge — and has done so successfully at clubs with shoestring budgets, thin squads, and modest expectations.

Record of Overachievement

• Third-most wins across all divisions in Spanish football history.

• Guided Getafe to European football — despite being among the lowest spenders in La Liga.

• Sold over €83m worth of players, yet remained competitive.

• Transformed unknowns into Premier League-calibre talent (e.g. Christantus Uche, a midfielder-turned-striker sold to Crystal Palace for £17m).

These are not the stats of a coach clinging to survival. They’re the resume of a strategist who turns underdogs into overachievers.

The Methods: Intensity, Detail, and Relentless Work

Jose Bordalas is a friend of former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane

Bordalás’ reputation for demanding discipline isn’t exaggerated:

• 3-hour training sessions

• Daily weigh-ins; overweight players run drills with added weight

• Bizarre but effective motivational games: e.g. kicking the ball onto the Madrid motorway or heading it out of the stadium

These methods might seem archaic or even absurd — but former players say they experienced the best football of their careers under him.

“He made me mad, like a father… but he made me live the best moment of my career.” – Juan Cala, former Getafe defender

More Than Just Brawn: High Pressing & AI Integration

Contrary to the caricature, Bordalás’ tactics are tactically modern:

• High, aggressive pressing

• Compact defensive blocks

• Transitions over possession

• Fewest shots conceded = maximum defensive control

Recently, he’s embraced AI-driven tactical analysis to refine positioning and error-forcing scenarios. For all the gruffness, this is data-backed pragmatism in action.

Unapologetic & Unfiltered: “This is football, dad”

His most iconic quote — now a meme — came amid criticism:

“Esto es fútbol, papá.”

(“This is football, dad.”)

Said with a grin, it embodied his philosophy. He doesn’t just coach football — he reframes what football means. Not every match has to look like a TikTok highlight reel. Sometimes, football is about grit, not glamour.

A Man of the People

While others sit in VIP suites, Bordalás is known to have coffee with fans in the Getafe cafeteria. Locals adore him. He supports those in need — quietly, consistently. For many supporters, he’s not just a coach. He’s the embodiment of working-class football values.

The Manager Purists Love to Hate — But Must Respect

At clubs like Alcorcón, Elche, Alavés, Valencia, and Getafe, he has:

• Overachieved with limited talent

• Survived elite-level competition

• Built cohesive units where others saw dysfunction

He hasn’t won La Liga. He hasn’t lifted the Champions League. But Bordalás is a specialist in making the improbable seem routine.

As one rival coach once said:

“Facing Bordalás is like going to the dentist.”

(Painful. Necessary. And you’d rather avoid it.)

Final Word: There Is More Than One Way to Win

Bordalás’ style doesn’t fit the tiki-taka template. But nor does it need to. His football sacrifices aesthetics for survival, structure, and surprise. For every Guardiola, there is a Bordalás — and they are both necessary.

In the end, “This is football, dad.”