Getafe had frustrated their hosts for much of the contest at La Cerámica, but Buchanan broke the deadlock in the 80th minute before Romero added a second in stoppage time. Villarreal coach Iñigo Pérez praised his players’ patience after a difficult week, while Bordalás admitted his team needed to address problems at both ends of the pitch.
“We struggled a lot with the ball, although without it we were quite serious,” Bordalás said. “It was a shame. On a clearance, Andrés went to press and became out of position. No team-mate covered for him, Dani had to close a long way across, and the 1-0 came. Then the second goal arrived and the team became stretched.”
The Getafe coach said the international break provided an opportunity for an honest assessment.
“We have to make a deep reflection because we cannot continue like this. We have to make a change. We have conceded goals in every match.
“We need more discipline, commitment and seriousness. We have to improve offensively, with the ball. We are struggling to link passes together and, if you cannot connect passes, you do not create chances. We have not scored a single goal away from home and that cannot continue.”
Bordalás also pointed to the workload carried by several players, including Mojica, Gudelj and Dani Carvajal, who had arrived without a full pre-season.
“They have had to play practically every match and are accumulating a lot of minutes. It is taking its toll. I wanted to make the changes before the goal, but the 1-0 came just before I could do it.”
Pérez, meanwhile, praised the patience his side showed against opponents who defended in numbers.
“We knew the kind of match we would face. Perhaps we were not brilliant and it was difficult, but finding spaces against Getafe is always complicated because they defend very well. That deserves recognition,” he said.
“The patience the team showed in waiting for the right moment and then taking it was worthy of praise, especially after a very complicated week in terms of managing emotions. Stress can appear at any moment. You can make a mistake and they punish you.”
The Villarreal coach felt the late pressure was a consequence of his team continuing to work against a well-organised defence.
“When we found a little more fluency and created more chances towards the end, it was partly because Getafe had defended very well for a long time. But eventually they cannot sustain it, perhaps because of the good work of Villarreal. You have to be accurate and do things properly.”
Pérez also urged his players not to become carried away by the victory.
“We need good results, because every win generates confidence and creates solidity. Hopefully, after the break, we can find balance and keep moving forward, but not in such an unstable way.
“I do not want to lose that balance because of this victory. There was a different energy from the players today. That is the starting point from which we have to build.”