Getafe made a disastrous start at the Coliseum. Iván Azón put the hosts ahead in the second minute, but Albian Ajeti equalised almost immediately before Yanis Cimignani gave Lugano the lead. Ajeti struck again in the 26th minute, and Uran Bislimi made it 4-1 five minutes after half-time.
Borja Mayoral reduced the deficit in the 74th minute, but Kevin Behrens scored in stoppage time to complete a comprehensive win for the Swiss side. Getafe have now failed to win either of their opening Conference League matches.
Bordalás was scathing about the performance and the level of the opposition, although his anger was directed as much towards the club’s recruitment as the players’ display.
“Lugano are a second-division team here in Spain, with all due respect, and they have scored five goals against us. We cannot allow that,” he said.
The coach explained that he had wanted to rest players who were at risk of injury, but the scale of the defeat forced him to bring regular starters into the match after the interval. He said the experience had convinced him that rotating the squad was no longer an option.
“Everyone has realised that I haven’t made changes. I don’t deserve this. I feel betrayed because what I have been promised year after year has not been fulfilled, and I am angry. I love Getafe and this is very painful.”
Bordalás said he had been left without the depth required to manage a campaign involving LaLiga and European football. He warned that continuing to rely on the same players could increase the risk of injuries, but insisted the team had little alternative.
“From now on I cannot give players a rest,” he said. “We do not have a squad prepared to compete.”
He also argued that the defeat had exposed an imbalance within the group, rather than simply a bad evening in front of their own supporters.
“We improved a little with players who usually play, but it has been demonstrated that the squad is unbalanced. It was obvious that we are not equipped for three competitions, not even one.”
Lugano’s attacking efficiency made the task even harder. Ajeti’s brace and Cimignani’s early strike punished Getafe’s defensive errors, while Bislimi extended the advantage before Mayoral’s response offered only brief hope.
Bordalás now faces the challenge of restoring confidence while managing a squad he believes is short of quality and depth. His public comments also place renewed pressure on Getafe’s hierarchy to address his concerns about recruitment.