Corberán: “It wasn’t the team’s best game”

Valencia CF coach Carlos Corberán spoke after his side’s 1-0 defeat away to Deportivo Alavés on Matchday 36 of the LALIGA EA SPORTS season.

The penalty

“It's strange. It's not usual that this happens. Live, I wasn’t able to assess the action because it's difficult from my perspective. The referee interpreted it as a penalty, and VAR, which has the ability to take a moment, the cameras, and the ability to analyse the play in detail made the decision that in their criteria the action was reviewable. Maybe they didn't share the referee's criteria; not about what happened in the moment, but in terms of the rigour allowed when you to pause the footage and assess the goalkeeper's inertia, whether there was contact or not, the intention of the contact, or if it's a natural action.

When the VAR calls the referee over, normally it's because during that pause they see the action in greater detail than a referee can in the moment. You have to trust that when the referee is called over to review it, he will have the same time to see it as those in the VAR room. There was a discrepancy in criteria, and all you can do is accept the referee's decision. I hope it's fair, because I always call for justice in the game. VAR is a tool that allows you possibilities that looking at things in the moment doesn't. I understand there was a difference of opinion between the VAR and the on-field referee.”

The match

“It wasn't the best game from the team. In the first 15 minutes, we started very actively. But as the minutes went by, the accuracy diminished. This was the game with the highest number of unforced turnovers that we’ve had. There were two moments in the game that held us back: The attacking throw-ins that we didn’t make the most of, and a higher number of turnovers than we normally have. We didn't feel fluid, in terms of our behaviour and solutions. It wasn't the team's best attacking display. Even so, we could have levelled the game. A draw would have been a fair result. Football is a game of getting things right and getting things wrong, and today, from the 15th minute onwards, there were more errors from us. Until the last five minutes, we didn't find any chances to break through in attack.”

Refereeing

“As a coach, if I could change what happened with the critique I could make, I would, but of course, I have to focus on what is down to me, and that is changing the way the team should have attacked better to achieve a better result.”

The upcoming matches

“We have two games left, and Valencia CF will play those two matches with the mentality of going for as many points as possible. Sometimes things will work out better, sometimes worse, but Valencia CF will continue working and competing in the best way possible.”