Getafe CF secured qualification for the UEFA Conference League group stage on August 27 despite suffering a 2-1 loss in Belgrade.
The Spanish club advanced to the main tournament 4-3 on aggregate across the two legs, confirming their place in European competition for the fourth time in club history following a match of maximum physical and mental intensity.
Speaking on Spanish radio station El Partidazo de COPE immediately after the final whistle, Getafe head coach José Bordalás expressed satisfaction with the overall achievement while acknowledging his own relentless standards.
Bordalás said he was very demanding and would have preferred to win the second leg in Serbia. However, he emphasized that the essential outcome was securing European football, noting that playing on a complicated pitch against a historic club in an incredible atmosphere made the task exceptionally tough.
Getafe CF, based in the Madrid region, previously reached European competition under Bordalás during the 2019-20 season, when the Alicante-born manager led the side to the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals. The UEFA Conference League, launched in 2021 as Europe's third-tier club tournament, offers teams outside the continent's wealthiest elite a route to European group-stage football.
Match struggle in Belgrade
In his analysis of the 90 minutes, the Getafe manager admitted his team endured severe hardship on the night. He explained that his players experienced critical moments during the encounter and conceded that errors by young, inexperienced squad members contributed to the difficulty.
According to Bordalás, a loss of possession inside Getafe's own penalty area led directly to the opening goal for the home team. The goal ignited the Serbian crowd before Getafe managed to respond and bring the score level.
Belgrade host venues are widely recognized across European football for generating intense, intimidating environments for visiting teams, adding significant psychological pressure to knockout fixtures.
Disputed calls and defensive mistakes
The second half was defined by high tension and contentious refereeing decisions. Bordalás highlighted that Getafe protested against a handball in the buildup to the second goal conceded by his side.
Despite the setback on the night, Bordalás stressed that teams must learn how to suffer in top-level football. He remarked that no opponent gives anything away in European competition, adding that the qualification validated the immense effort the squad had put in since last season.
El Partidazo de COPE, hosted by journalist Juanma Castaño on the Cadena COPE network, is one of Spain's leading late-night sports broadcasts, where managers regularly offer immediate post-match assessments.
Squad rebuild and transfer demands
Looking beyond the night's result, Bordalás insisted that attention must turn immediately to domestic action in LaLiga, which he described as a highly competitive and difficult tournament. He called on the club's board to deliver new signings before the transfer window closes.
Getafe suffered significant squad losses during the summer transfer window, key among them the departures of central midfielders Mauro Arambarri and Luis Milla. Arambarri and Milla had served as central pillars in Getafe's midfield during previous LaLiga campaigns.
Bordalás warned that it is never simple for a club of Getafe's size to reach European competition. He urged the supporters, the club, and especially the players to celebrate the achievement, but warned that incoming reinforcements are essential to balance the squad so Getafe can compete at a proper level across three competitions.
Building for the future
The manager concluded by stating that the current squad remains far from the finished article he wants to see on the pitch. He stressed that the group still has much to learn, correct, and improve, but expressed firm conviction that Getafe will achieve their optimal level in the coming months.
