
Getafe used derogatory comments from Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong in their dressing room as motivation to beat Ajax in the Europa League.
De Jong – who joined Barça from Ajax last summer – told Diario AS: “Getafe does not play to entertain the fans, it bothers me to watch them play.”
This is the picture of Frenkie de Jong that was posted in the Getafe dressing room. [@VoetbalPrimeur] pic.twitter.com/Rt8d0yZGga
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) February 28, 2020
But it was they who had the last laugh.
Dutch media outlet Voetbal Primeur discovered after the game that De Jong’s comments were printed and pasted on the wall by manager José Bordalás, in order to inspire his players.
Getafe won an ill-tempered first leg 2-0 in Spain and progressed to the last 16 despite losing 2-1 in Amsterdam, with Jaime Mata netting a vital away goal.
Bordalás then hit back at criticism towards his team, insisting that their brand of football is just as valid as others in the competition.
“We hit the woodwork three times, we scored and had a goal ruled out. If that’s a defensive team then I don’t know what football is.”
Getafe have been drawn against Inter in the last 16.