Alicante B, Alicante (in three stages), Benidorm, Eldense, Novelda, Hercules, Alcoyano, Elche, Alcorcón (two stages), Alavés and Getafe. In all these teams, José Bordalás, current Valencia coach, has developed his method. Obviously with different nuances, depending on the template available at all times. But the plan always materialized. Almost always successful, regardless of category, and almost always with his footballers capturing game ideas on the field that he has in his head.
Roughly, with a defined 4-4-2, Intensity in pressure, with the team reaching the top, with a powerful midfield, with a football based on the verticality of the attacks and with a block knowing how to take the games at will, many times despairing the opponents. With that idea arrived in Valencia and it seemed that the squad had absorbed these concepts so fast that they had given results very fast. In the first four days, the team flirted with the top of the table.
However, from the second half against Real Madrid, on matchday five, Valencia collapsed and entered a crisis that had seven games without winning, including several blushing encounters, especially against Sevilla and Betis. It was after this match against Betis, which was preceded by another against Mallorca, at home, very similar, when Bordalás decided to change. His idea of always had to wait because the results were not coming.
Either because of injuries, because there are not enough players in the squad to develop their idea, because there has not been enough time to work … the fact is that Bordalás decided to reinvent himself. With three games against rivals from the upper part (Villarreal, Atlético and Real Sociedad) ahead, The Alicante-born player parked the idea in which he believes and turned the football discourse until he surprised Emery, as the Basque recognized at a press conference. Low block defense, with three midfielders trying to cover the inner corridors, a moving center forward like Guedes, directing football to the elaboration from behind (“Against Mallorca we gave 200 passes without passing the midfield”, Bordalás went on to say) … and above all, knowing how to suffer with the defense line attached to Cillessen (more against Villarreal than against Atlético).
And the new plan, at least in terms of results, worked. Bordalás was happier against Villarreal than against Atleti but, except for surprise, will repeat scheme against Real Sociedad, next Sunday 21, in Anoeta. The crux of the matter will come after the match against Real. Valencia will host Rayo at Mestalla. And the black and white team will hardly play in the same way. The idea of the Bordalás coaching staff is to resume their idea to return to the path of football that they like. But the results rule. This is how December will come, when Peter Lim will decide if he strengthens the team for the second round of the championship.