Real Betis manager Gabriel Calderón was angered by refereeing decisions, during the defeat against Atlético Madrid, feeling that his side shouldn’t have been reduced to ten man and that decision had changed the game.
Another defeat and yet more disappointment for Betis manager Calderón, who felt that the dismissal of Braian Rodríguez in the 55th minute, for a second yellow card, was the game changer for his team, as Atlético then went on to score twice in the next eight minutes.
“There were two halves to this game. We had a great game and we had our chance to get ourselves ahead. The dismissal of Braian changed the game though. Following the 120 minutes from Thursday and the sending-off today, against such a strong opponent as Atlético, that’s what changed the game.”
Asked if he had been pondering substituting Rodríguez, Calderón explained that he hadn’t and that he felt the decision for the first booking, had been very harsh.
“I wasn’t thinking about taking him off. It was an unfortunate incident, he body checked his opponent whilst he was running. It was just a normal movement whilst he was running. The first card shouldn’t have been given, he turned to avoid the challenge and then the Atlético player went down like he’d been shot.”
Despite the result, the Betis manager was content with the effort made by his team, reiterating that the sending-off changed the game and that they’re not having any fortune with refereeing decisions.
“We must keep going out there to win every game, just as we’ve done today. The difference between the two sides today, wasn’t noticed until the sending off. Every game is a final for us and we have to win our next game. Fate is being cruel to us, but we have to keep fighting and show the effort we’re showing.”
As for talismanic striker Rubén Castro not playing, Calderón pointed at the tiredness of having played extra-time and penalties, against Sevilla in the Europa League on Thursday.
“He’d played the whole 120 minutes on Thursday. Strikers always expend more effort than any other player. We needed the utmost freshness and intensity today, so that’s why we chose who we chose.”
Questioned further for his thoughts about refereeing decisions during the game, Calderón accepted that Atlético could have had the lead, when a goal from Diego Castro was wrongly annulled for offside, but highlighted that the move leading up to that chance, had also come from a mistake by the match officials.
“The feeling I have today, is that there isn’t any respect for us at all. Molina went to protest about an elbow to the face he suffered and was shown a yellow card. Costa barged one of our players into touch, then he protested and got nothing. That’s always going to be unsettling for us and it’s like there’s no respite. It’s true that the Costa goal that was disallowed was legal, but the referee had gifted them a throw and then he chalked away their goal. Aside from that incident, I think he’s shown a complete lack of consideration for Betis.”
Leo Baptistao didn’t feature against his parent club, but asked if Betis could have done with him playing, Calderón simply expressed contentment for all those who did play.
“We haven’t missed anyone. We deserved to get ourselves ahead in the game, I’m very satisfied with the work of the team. Every game we play, all the players are showing a great level. We know the urgency we have to win, but to do that we have to keep playing as we did on Thursday or today. There’s no other way.”
Another defeat and yet more disappointment for Betis manager Calderón, who felt that the dismissal of Braian Rodríguez in the 55th minute, for a second yellow card, was the game changer for his team, as Atlético then went on to score twice in the next eight minutes.
“There were two halves to this game. We had a great game and we had our chance to get ourselves ahead. The dismissal of Braian changed the game though. Following the 120 minutes from Thursday and the sending-off today, against such a strong opponent as Atlético, that’s what changed the game.”
Asked if he had been pondering substituting Rodríguez, Calderón explained that he hadn’t and that he felt the decision for the first booking, had been very harsh.
“I wasn’t thinking about taking him off. It was an unfortunate incident, he body checked his opponent whilst he was running. It was just a normal movement whilst he was running. The first card shouldn’t have been given, he turned to avoid the challenge and then the Atlético player went down like he’d been shot.”
Despite the result, the Betis manager was content with the effort made by his team, reiterating that the sending-off changed the game and that they’re not having any fortune with refereeing decisions.
“We must keep going out there to win every game, just as we’ve done today. The difference between the two sides today, wasn’t noticed until the sending off. Every game is a final for us and we have to win our next game. Fate is being cruel to us, but we have to keep fighting and show the effort we’re showing.”
As for talismanic striker Rubén Castro not playing, Calderón pointed at the tiredness of having played extra-time and penalties, against Sevilla in the Europa League on Thursday.
“He’d played the whole 120 minutes on Thursday. Strikers always expend more effort than any other player. We needed the utmost freshness and intensity today, so that’s why we chose who we chose.”
Questioned further for his thoughts about refereeing decisions during the game, Calderón accepted that Atlético could have had the lead, when a goal from Diego Castro was wrongly annulled for offside, but highlighted that the move leading up to that chance, had also come from a mistake by the match officials.
“The feeling I have today, is that there isn’t any respect for us at all. Molina went to protest about an elbow to the face he suffered and was shown a yellow card. Costa barged one of our players into touch, then he protested and got nothing. That’s always going to be unsettling for us and it’s like there’s no respite. It’s true that the Costa goal that was disallowed was legal, but the referee had gifted them a throw and then he chalked away their goal. Aside from that incident, I think he’s shown a complete lack of consideration for Betis.”
Leo Baptistao didn’t feature against his parent club, but asked if Betis could have done with him playing, Calderón simply expressed contentment for all those who did play.
“We haven’t missed anyone. We deserved to get ourselves ahead in the game, I’m very satisfied with the work of the team. Every game we play, all the players are showing a great level. We know the urgency we have to win, but to do that we have to keep playing as we did on Thursday or today. There’s no other way.”