Valencia’s Vindication: Will José Bordalás Tactics Be A Success At The Estadio Mestalla After A Tough La Liga Season? – Tactical Analysis

Valencia have undergone some incredibly turbulent form in La Liga in the past few seasons.

Since the 2014/15 season, Los Murciélagos have managed to finish inside the top four on three separate occasions.

However, they have finished in the bottom half of the table three times too, subsidised by one ninth-place finish.

The 2020/21 season, which came to a close just less than two weeks ago, was their worst in the last seven campaigns.

Valencia finished 13^th in the end and their terrible form led to the sacking of head coach Javi Gracia, the former Watford manager, just two weeks prior to the season’s conclusion.

The Spaniard left with just a 29 percent win percentage before he was dismissed, an indictment on just how poor Valencia were.

However, preparations for the 2021 campaign have already begun as the board have appointed former Getafe coach José Bordalás as the manager on a two-year deal.

Bordalás’ Getafe played a very dogged and aggressive pressing style, one which was effective but not very easy on the eye.

Nonetheless, the 57-year-old who was born in Valencia managed to guide Getafe from the Segunda Division back to the Primera in 2016/17 and then to fifth place in La Liga in 2017/18, the club’s highest-ever finish, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League where they reached the quarter-finals.

His appointment at Valencia is certainly interesting and one to keep an eye on.

This article will be a tactical analysis of Bordalás essentially in the form of a head coach scout report.

It will be an analysis of his tactics at Getafe and how he will implement his principles of play at Valencia.

Lineups, formations and, double fullbacks

Looking at the choice formation Bordalás has gone with throughout his time at Getafe, a sensible estimate would be that he will look to deploy a 4-4-2 formation with his new club.

Getafe have used the conventional system in 68 percent of their matches this season alone in all competitions.

The 4-4-2 gives Getafe a lot of balance in their side due to the personnel but the formation is also mathematically the best for covering the full dimensions of a football pitch when defending, according to the former Milan and Atletico Madrid boss Arrigo Sacchi.

This was Getafe’s typical starting eleven from this season with the notable change coming at left centre-back where David Timor and Erick Cabaco were rotated quite a bit.

The right-wing and right-back were also rotated but it was mainly rotated among both Damian Suarez and Allan Nyom with Nyom becoming the right-back at times and Suarez playing further forward.