Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde denies any controversy
regarding the goal of Suarez against Leganes as he believes the officials of
the last match made a correct decision to allow that goal. However, Leganes
protested the controversial goal of the Uruguayan forward after their tragic
3-1 defeat.
Leganes gave an
Ivan Cuellar saved the brilliant shot of Lionel Messi in the
second half which Luis Suarez netted from a pretty close range. Leganes then
appealed for a VAR due to the Uruguayan’s collision with the goalie. The
replays then showed, although there was a collision with Cuellar, the impact
was minimal and they assigned a green signal for the goal.
While talking about the goal, Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde said “I thought it was a goal,” and added, “What can I say, everyone sees it from their point of view, but if the referee has given it, it will be a goal.” He then also added “With VAR, the controversy is not over. It’s a clear goal. Suarez does not touch the goalkeeper, they have reviewed it.”
The Barcelona manager then gave his opinion about the decision saying “There will always be controversy, mistakes will follow and you have to accept the error. That [errors] will not end with VAR, nor if it was a robot refereeing.” Valverde also talked about Carles Alena and said, “Alena played a great match, but we thought it was a good idea to make changes at 1-1.”
He said “[Ivan] Rakitic and Messi are used to playing
together and we have opted for a turn, but that does not mean it [Alena’s
performance] was not good,” and then further added “The other day the full
game, Alena did not play and today he did. We have to give everyone games
because they are all important.”