“Did he want to be the protagonist?”

Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 9:41 PM• Daniel Cabot Kerkdijk • Last update: 21:53

Ronald Koeman had to watch the last 25 minutes of the game between Barcelona and Granada (1-2) in LaLiga from the stands of the Camp Nou. The coach received a red card from referee Pablo González Fuertes because of certain comments towards the fourth official. Due to his impending suspension, Koeman will miss Sunday’s game with ex-employer Valencia anyway and according to Spanish media, a red card automatically means two duels suspension. That means that Koeman would also have to let go of the top match against Atlético Madrid.

Afterwards, Koeman still did not understand why he had received a red card. “I do not understand. According to Carles Naval (team manager, ed.), It was due to a lack of respect towards the fourth official ”, the Dutchman said on the sidelines afterwards, in conversation with Movistar +. “I didn’t say anything wrong to the fourth official. I have made no insults, nothing. It’s unbelievable that I got a red card. But if he wanted to be the protagonist? Thanks.”

Koeman did not want to say or could not remember what he had said. “I do not know. I don’t know what will be in the referee’s report. But if it says things that I didn’t say, then I’ll have to do something about it. ” The reporter asked Koeman if he was angry with himself or someone else, for example the fourth official. “There were a few times when he answered me in a certain way. But I don’t know what disrespect means if you don’t offend someone. Not for the first time I don’t understand anything about it. ”

Once in the Camp Nou press room, Koeman was told that ‘a disrespect towards the fourth official’ had indeed been noted in the referee’s report as the reason for his exclusion. “That is not true. Disrespect is when you insult someone and it hasn’t happened. We discussed a few moments during the match and that was done in a respectful way. I would like to know what words I used then. In any case, no ugly words ”, he emphasized.

Koeman regrets his absence from the upcoming duels. “I don’t know if that will affect the team. It does affect me. If I’ve used ugly words it’s my responsibility, but it wasn’t. We will have to wait. I can’t say more about it. ”

No. Team M. W. G. V. +/- Pnt
1 Atlético Madrid 33 22 7 4 38 73
2 Real Madrid 33 21 8 4 32 71
3 Barcelona 33 22 5 6 46 71
4 Seville 33 22 4 7 23 70
5 Real Sociedad 33 14 11 8 17 53
6 Real Betis 33 14 8 11 -3 50
7 Villarreal 33 12 13 8 12 49
8 Granada 33 13 6 14 -11 45
9 Athletic Club 33 10 12 11 7 42
10 Celta de Vigo 33 10 11 12 -7 41
11 Osasuna 33 10 10 13 -8 40
12 Levante 33 9 11 13 -8 38
13 Cadiz 33 9 10 14 -21 37
14 Valencia 33 8 12 13 -7 36
15 Getafe 33 8 10 15 -13 34
16 Alavés 33 7 10 16 -21 31
17 Real Valladolid 33 5 15 13 -14 30
18 Elche 33 6 12 15 -20 30
19 Huesca 33 5 12 16 -19 27
20 Eibar 33 4 11 18 -23 23