Real Betis central defender Paulao had an absolute nightmare game away at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, gifting the opening goal with a poor back-pass, then slicing the ball into the back of the net for the second, which then led to him asking to be substituted.
Paulao asks to be substituted
Sunday’s defeat at Rayo Vallecano practically leaves Real Betis relegated, 10 points from safety and with just 12 points to play for. The situation wasn’t improved, certainly in the eyes of the fans after a shocking performance by central defender Paulao, who after two glaring mistakes, called for the bench to replace him, seemingly giving up completely.
On Monday, Paulao took the decision to speak with the official website of Real Betis, in an attempt to explain what had been going through his mind.
“I want people to know that I’m not here to say whether what I did was right or wrong, or to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes. I’m here to show my face and explain what was going on in my head.”
“Mentally, after two such huge mistakes, one after the other, it was best I came out of the game. That’s the impression I had and I think it was an honest one. I wasn’t focused on the game and I thought there were players who could do better for the team than myself, at that moment.”
“I know that people will be angry with me, but they also know I’m not just a quitter. I was mentally screwed and asked for the change, so that I didn’t do the team any more damage. My thought was that we had to win and every ball, I was making a mess of everything.”
Paulao also admitted it was a shameful experience, following hugely critical comments he’s since seen in the media and in social networks, that focused on his hand gestures to the bench, that he be substituted.
“It’s the worst situation I’ve experienced in my whole career and the decision I made too. Being honest in football is very difficult, even though that’s what I was doing. I couldn’t do it any more and I’m paying for that now. I didn’t want to lie though or pretend I was fine.”
“Perhaps the repercussions have been greater, because of the gestures. Perhaps I could have done it a different way, with just a look that maybe they’d have understood on the bench.”
Trying to defend his position though, Paulao insisted it was for the best.
“I was honest. I could have carried on failing, failing and failing more. I had the feeling that was all that was going to happen.”
The defender was thankful for the support of his team-mates and wished to offer his own heartfelt apologies to the fans, feeling he really let them down.
“A lot of people have offered me their support. Mistakes happen, I’m only human. To the people who are angry with me, I want to offer my apologies, because my thought wasn’t just to quit. I’ve always tried to give my best for the fans, the club and my team-mates.”
Paulau concluded that he intends to prove he’s not a quitter, but acknowledged that it’s now up to the manager to decide his future.
“I feel like I can play again, though I know this situation is really, really tough. Now I have to prove I’m not the person people we’re thinking I am, a coward or a liar. I have to step up and show my face.”
Paulao asks to be substituted
Sunday’s defeat at Rayo Vallecano practically leaves Real Betis relegated, 10 points from safety and with just 12 points to play for. The situation wasn’t improved, certainly in the eyes of the fans after a shocking performance by central defender Paulao, who after two glaring mistakes, called for the bench to replace him, seemingly giving up completely.
On Monday, Paulao took the decision to speak with the official website of Real Betis, in an attempt to explain what had been going through his mind.
“I want people to know that I’m not here to say whether what I did was right or wrong, or to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes. I’m here to show my face and explain what was going on in my head.”
“Mentally, after two such huge mistakes, one after the other, it was best I came out of the game. That’s the impression I had and I think it was an honest one. I wasn’t focused on the game and I thought there were players who could do better for the team than myself, at that moment.”
“I know that people will be angry with me, but they also know I’m not just a quitter. I was mentally screwed and asked for the change, so that I didn’t do the team any more damage. My thought was that we had to win and every ball, I was making a mess of everything.”
Paulao also admitted it was a shameful experience, following hugely critical comments he’s since seen in the media and in social networks, that focused on his hand gestures to the bench, that he be substituted.
“It’s the worst situation I’ve experienced in my whole career and the decision I made too. Being honest in football is very difficult, even though that’s what I was doing. I couldn’t do it any more and I’m paying for that now. I didn’t want to lie though or pretend I was fine.”
“Perhaps the repercussions have been greater, because of the gestures. Perhaps I could have done it a different way, with just a look that maybe they’d have understood on the bench.”
Trying to defend his position though, Paulao insisted it was for the best.
“I was honest. I could have carried on failing, failing and failing more. I had the feeling that was all that was going to happen.”
The defender was thankful for the support of his team-mates and wished to offer his own heartfelt apologies to the fans, feeling he really let them down.
“A lot of people have offered me their support. Mistakes happen, I’m only human. To the people who are angry with me, I want to offer my apologies, because my thought wasn’t just to quit. I’ve always tried to give my best for the fans, the club and my team-mates.”
Paulau concluded that he intends to prove he’s not a quitter, but acknowledged that it’s now up to the manager to decide his future.
“I feel like I can play again, though I know this situation is really, really tough. Now I have to prove I’m not the person people we’re thinking I am, a coward or a liar. I have to step up and show my face.”