“I was angry, we scored nice goals that didn’t count. I didn’t see the offsides, but the referee told me that the decisions were fair. I have to accept it,” González was quoted as saying by the website of the Spanish sports daily Marca.
Español, whose best players included the Czech midfielder Alex Král, looked like a towel at first on the ground of the favourites. After two goals from Dani Olmo and Raphinha, he was losing 0:3 after half an hour. At that moment, a taunt came from the home sectors: Segunda. So the second league.
“It was not pleasant to listen to. We are Español and we can’t make fools of ourselves. I was really mixed up, I raised my voice at the players during the break. I told them either they start playing 100 per cent and walk out of the game with their heads held high or screw it up and we get eight wickets. In the end, we showed a positive face in the second half, we were able to reduce. If we had played like that the whole match, the result would have been different,” González pointed out.
Bad luck also deprived his team of a more favorable result. Both disallowed goals were preceded by very close, centimeter offsides. For the first goal by half a foot, for the second barely ten centimeters. The only recognized goal of the visitors was a shot by Javi Puado from the 63rd minute.
Olmo, the author of two goals, became the hero of the match. The Spanish European champion is gaining minutes and form after injury. “I feel good, I had a great desire to come back and help the team again on the field,” said Olmo.
Barcelona has had a fantastic fortnight, during which they successively knocked out Sevilla (5:1), Bayern (4:1) in the Champions League, destroyed Real (4:0) in El Clásico, and then beat Español on Sunday. “We have had a great season. We knew that Espanyol would give their best, that the match would be tough. But we managed him,” rejoiced Olmo.
The weekend round of La Liga was played in the shadow of the devastating floods in Valencia, which have so far claimed hundreds of lives. There were proposals to postpone it, but due to the minimum of replacement dates, this did not happen.
“Maybe this match shouldn’t have happened. I would like to send support and words of encouragement to all those affected by the elements. As a club we will help however we can. I urge others to get involved because this is a tragedy,” Olmo said.
The Whimsical World of VAR: Refereeing Tales from the Pitch
Ah, the magical land of football. Where the grass is always greener, and apparently only a few centimeters can determine your destiny! Just ask González, who seemed more confused than a cat at a dog show after a match filled with disallowed goals. If there was an award for “most perplexed coach,” I daresay he’d have it wrapped up tighter than a footballer’s shorts!
González, a man clearly silhouetted by the agony of disallowed goals, stated, “I was angry, we scored nice goals that didn’t count.” Well, mate, aren’t most good things in life offside? A true testament to the beautiful game, where inches are the new yards. He accepted the referee’s verdict with the kind of grace usually reserved for someone who just found out their favorite tea shop has run out of Earl Grey!
Espanyol came onto the pitch looking like they’d shown up to wrestle a bear when they were really just meant to play footsie with it! After two early goals from Dani Olmo and Raphinha, they must have felt like they were starring in a tragic comedy. The crowd, in its infinite wisdom, started taunting them with chants of “Segunda!” It’s clear they’d all been to the same ‘How to be a Dreadful Host’ seminar. But who could blame them? When your team is down 0-3 in half an hour, you might as well have a laugh. Honestly, it’s practically a rite of passage.
But just when you thought that González would be having nightmares about humiliation, he decided to channel his inner motivational speaker! “I raised my voice at the players during the break,” he said, probably resembling a demented owl. “Either you play 100% or we’re going to need more than a Plan B!” I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear their coach threatening a cricket score in football? Cue dramatic montage: players turning into gladiators!
And thank goodness for the second half antics! They pulled themselves up by their shoelaces and went on to reduce the margin of defeat. González lamented that if only they’d started playing like that from the get-go, the result would’ve been different. Classic case of ‘too little, too late,’ just like that leftover slice of pizza you found in the fridge two days later!
Let’s not forget the villain of this tale: the linesman. With two goals disallowed by the slimmest of margins — one was off by half a foot, and the other by a mere ten centimeters — you’d think they were measuring for curtains rather than officiating a bloody football match! Javi Puado saved some face for Espanyol with a consolation goal in the 63rd minute. At least now they could go home with their heads held high… or at least one of them could.
Meanwhile, Barcelona was reveling in their success, chugging along like a well-oiled machine. Olmo, the hero of the hour, regaled us with tales of his desire to return to the field post-injury. “I feel good,” he said, sounding like a motivational poster come to life. “We’ve had a great season!” If he keeps that up, he might just turn into the poster child for “Overly Positive Footballers.”
But hold on a minute! Just as we’re cheering on Barcelona, the specter of tragedy looms. The weekend’s La Liga matches were overshadowed by horrific floods in Valencia, claimed lives, and devastated communities. While the drama on the pitch is riveting, it shines a spotlight on the human side of the game. Olmo, displaying some emotional intelligence, shifted gears: “I would like to send support and words of encouragement to all those affected by the elements,” he said. Fair play to him; maybe there’s hope for football clichés yet!
With a flick of a foot and a dash of pantomime, football never fails to entertain! And whether it’s VAR controversy, miraculous comebacks, or heartfelt tributes to the human spirit, football continues to deliver a spectacle worth every penny we pay to watch. Just remember, folks, always stay onside—figuratively and literally!
González expressed his frustration over disallowed goals, stating, “I was angry. We scored several beautiful goals that ultimately did not count. Although I didn’t personally observe the offsides, the referee assured me that the decisions made were just. Acceptance is all I can do,” he was reported to have said by the Spanish sports daily Marca.
Espanyol, marked by the notable presence of Czech midfielder Alex Král, initially seemed overwhelmed on the pitch by the formidable favorites. Within the first half hour of the match, the team found itself in a daunting position, trailing 0-3 after Dani Olmo and Raphinha found the back of the net twice. At this juncture, the home supporters couldn’t refrain from taunting their rivals with jeers of “Segunda,” indicating a descent into the second division.
González reflected on the unpleasant reception, saying, “It was not easy to bear. We are Espanyol and we cannot afford to be the butt of jokes. I was quite agitated; I raised my voice at the players during the halftime break. I insisted that they either play at 100 percent and leave the pitch with their heads held high, or risk being humiliated. Ultimately, we displayed a stronger performance in the second half and managed to score. If we had maintained that level throughout the match, the outcome could have been very different.”
Bad luck continued to haunt his squad, as both nullified goals stemmed from extremely close, centimeter-level offsides. The first disallowed goal was ruled off for being a half-foot offside, while the second was merely ten centimeters beyond the line. The only goal that stood for the visitors came from a well-placed shot by Javi Puado in the 63rd minute, adding a glimmer of hope.
Olmo emerged as the standout player of the match, contributing two goals and solidifying his status as a key player for the team. Recovering from injury, the Spanish European champion conveyed his excitement: “I feel terrific. I was eager to return and make a difference for the team on the field once again,” Olmo remarked.
Barcelona is riding a wave of success, having achieved a remarkable streak over the past fortnight by decisively defeating Sevilla (5:1), Bayern (4:1) in the Champions League, and crushing their historic rivals Real Madrid (4:0) in El Clásico, culminating in their victory over Espanyol on Sunday. “We’ve enjoyed a phenomenal season. We were aware that Espanyol would put forth their utmost effort and that the match would be challenging. However, we handled the situation impressively,” Olmo celebrated.
The weekend round of La Liga took place against the backdrop of the catastrophic floods that have devastated Valencia, tragically claiming hundreds of lives. Suggestions to postpone matches were raised, but due to a lack of available reschedule dates, the games went on as planned.
Olmo took a moment to reflect on the ongoing disaster, stating, “Perhaps this match should not have proceeded. I want to extend my support and encouragement to everyone affected by these natural disasters. Our club will contribute wherever possible, and I encourage others to join in support because this is truly a tragedy.”
D goal was off by half a foot, while the second was ruled out by a mere ten centimeters. Javi Puado did manage to get on the scoresheet for the visitors in the 63rd minute, providing a glimmer of hope amidst the disappointment.
On the other side, Dani Olmo emerged as the star of the match for Barcelona, having scored two of the three early goals that put his team in a commanding position. Olmo, who has been recovering from injury, expressed his excitement about his return, saying, “I feel good; I’ve been eager to get back on the pitch and help the team.” His performance was instrumental in ensuring Barcelona continued their exceptional run of form.
Barcelona has been on a high, having recently triumphed over Sevilla (5:1), Bayern (4:1) in the Champions League, and delivering a stunning 4:0 victory against Real Madrid in El Clásico. Olmo shared his thoughts on the match, stating, “We knew Espanyol would give their best; it was a challenging game, but we managed to control it.”
Despite the thrilling action on the field, the weekend’s La Liga matches were overshadowed by severe flooding in Valencia, which has tragically impacted hundreds of lives. There were discussions about postponing the fixtures, but logistical challenges meant they went ahead as scheduled. Olmo took a moment to express solidarity with those affected by the disaster: “This match perhaps shouldn’t have occurred. I extend my support to everyone impacted by this tragedy, and as a club, we will help in any way we can. I encourage others to contribute because this is a significant disaster.”
In the whimsical world of football, where moments of brilliance and frustration coexist, the heart of the game remains rooted in shared experiences — both joyful and tragic. Whether it’s the high stakes of VAR decisions, coaches rallying their teams, or uniting for a cause beyond the pitch, football continues to be a powerful force that resonates with fans and players alike.
