Bordalás: "We're a small club; our main goal is safety"

José Bordalás (Alicante, 1964) achieved glory in the 2012-13 season, when he took AD Alcorcón to the playoffs for promotion to the Liga BBVA. Although the manager and club would later go separate ways, he returned in February 2014 to get the club back on track and avoid relegation. Now, and having had a whole preseason to plan and finish instilling his philosophy, Bordalás has made it possible for Alcorcón to finish among the top spots. "LFP.es, in-depth" spoke to him about the Alfaferos' current form, their goals and aspirations, and the next match with CD Tenerife.

LFP.es: You are undefeated in six consecutive matches and have climbed up to seventh place. What is the key to this run of form?
Bordalás: We've improved since to the start of the championship and we are happy and going through a good patch. We've changed a lot of things. 19 new players arrived in summer and it wasn't easy to harmonise so many new people, who did not know each other. As the weeks have gone by we've managed to get organised and improve in defence. That's the key to our success.

"If we can obtain consistency and continue to improve, we can fight for something more"

LFP.es: The latest win against Sabadell has taken Alcorcón close to the playoff spots. Is that now a goal or do you prefer to remain cautious?
Bordalás: We shouldn't forget that this is a small club and that our main goal is to get 50 points and stay up. If we can gradually pick up points and wins, then of course our goals will become more ambitious. Until we've achieved the club's main goal, we can't look beyond that.

LFP.es: You know what it is to take the team to the playoffs. What will be the keys to achieving that again?
Bordalás: We're aware that the Liga Adelante is increasingly complicated, tight and competitive every season. Consistency is the basis of success; if we can obtain consistency and continue to improve, because we have a look of room for improvement, we can fight for something more. Right now we're not thinking about that.

LFP.es: Where is the room for improvement?
Bordalás: We have players who have arrived this year who are struggling to adapt to the club's philosophy and to their new teammates, and that, individually, can improve. If we are ambitious and humble we will always be able to improve. That is what I try to do, to make sure the team improves in every respect from day to day.

"David Rodríguez is a phenomenal person and footballer. His signing has been a huge success"

LFP.es: Have the defensive changes had a great effect?
Bordalás: Without a doubt. We had a lot of problems in defence and teams were beating us quite easily. We've improved in defence and that has improved the results in turn. Football is a sport about balance, there has to be balance between the defence and attack. We're all a bit romantic about football, but without consistency it is difficult to get good results.

LFP.es: What does David Rodríguez mean to Alcorcón?
Bordalás: A huge amount. I could describe David as a phenomenal person and footballer. Besides what he brings us with his goals, he is proving to be a great example for the rest of the team. He has been a huge success for the club and for me, because we are tremendously happy with his goal-scoring and his hard work. As a person he is a 10 out of 10.

LFP.es: The next challenge is Tenerife, who are coming off the back of a narrow victory against R. Racing C. What are your thoughts on the match?
Bordalás: It'll be a tough game. You may think that we managers always say the same thing, but this is the Liga Adelante and it is tricky. There are no small enemies here, no easy opponents. They are coming to win and I'm sure it will be very difficult.
"In the Liga Adelante there are no small enemies; Tenerife are coming to win and I'm sure it will be a very difficult match"