"There is a chance, but it is very difficult. There are three matches left and nothing is decided yet. Now we face a very tough game on Sunday against Villarreal and we must focus on La Liga. When the next Conference League fixture arrives, we will try to collect as many points as possible to see if we get lucky and can reach the next round," he told reporters in his post-match press conference.

The Azulon boss felt his players put in a solid first-half display against Brighton, but admitted the Premier League outfit eventually asserted their superior physical condition, capitalising on the fatigue that has plagued Getafe since the start of the campaign.

"The team had a great first half. We were alive. They opposition were fresher in the second half. We've been feeling the effects of the effort expended since the start of the season, and the goal hurt us badly. They were a great side, third in the Premier League," he noted.

Bordalas also rued his side's ongoing defensive vulnerabilities, having registered just two clean sheets since the campaign began.

"I am partly pleased, but not completely because we didn't win. We conceded again and we must improve in that area. We have only kept two clean sheets, against Racing and Malaga. In all the other matches we have conceded, and it is very tough like that because you are not always going to score," he explained.

He was particularly scathing about the error that led to Malick Yalcouye's goal, which ultimately settled the contest in Brighton's favour.

"It was a very serious mistake. We had been warning about it right from the start of the move and we paid the price," he added.

He also pointed to the gulf in squad depth between the two clubs to rationalise his players' second-half drop in intensity.

"We will try to get the lads recovered. We felt it in the closing stages. From the 70th minute, some players were running on fumes. That is normal—some arrived late and had no pre-season. Our squad is nothing like our opponents', who have 47 players. We are not that fortunate. The difference is vast across the board. They have a market valuation of 700 million and immense depth; we have 12 or 13 players," he lamented.

Furthermore, he underlined his squad's structural limitations, particularly the lack of wingers, which has forced him to improvise with makeshift options out wide.

"We would like to have them, but we do not have a single winger. Satriano spent large spells out wide and he is a striker. Francho did too in the second half. We have to deploy players in those positions. We are the only team in the Primera, Segunda and Primera RFEF without wingers. The only one in professional football. We do the best we can," he stressed.

Finally, he singled out Uruguayan defender Juan Boselli, highlighting him as an example of the concentration and intensity demanded from his squad.

"Boselli was very good. Another great performance. He was alert, and that is how matches need to be lived—just as he lives them. I am very happy and I congratulate him. He played a fantastic game and that is how you have to experience them, with that focus and intensity. Hopefully he keeps it up," he concluded.