José Alberto: “The disallowed goal is the same play from Spain – France”

José Alberto focused a good part of his press conference after the game against Huesca to analyze the controversial arbitration decision that annulled Genaro’s goal in the 87th minute and which is very similar to the one that was valid for Spain – France of the UEFA Nations League and ended up costing the title to the Red. The Málaga coach acknowledged that he was speaking with the referees after the match and pointed to the VAR as the cause of the erroneous decision: “It is the same play of Spain – France. It is what it is. Another thing would be to debate the rule, but it is what it is and it is the same in that game as in this one. We ran out of two points ”.

Assessment of the meeting: “After the first 20 minutes the team rebuilt. It was difficult for us to move forward and reach the Andrés Fernández area. There were 20 minutes of harassment, where Huesca came out with a high intensity and gave a lot of rhythm to the circulation and it was difficult for us to recover. From then on the team has been very good. In the second half we played a game worthy of winning ”.

Goal canceled: “I’ve been talking to the referees, that’s why I was slow to go to a press conference. The referees have not seen the play, but I have seen it. Spain recently lost a championship due to a very similar play. In the end is the criterion. The referees, who have done a magnificent job, have their work clouded by a wrong decision that comes from Madrid, from a person who is watching the game on a screen and we are left without two points. They have to see it to make the decision and they haven’t seen it yet. The assistant does his job, which is to raise the flag in a very fast, very difficult play, with many people in the area. He does his job, I think he does it very well. But in the end there will always be doubt. For the fans and the Huesca players, it may be offside and for us and for half of Spain, because that play has recently passed us, it will be a legal goal. I saw it very clearly. It is the same play of Spain – France, the only difference is that Eric García goes to the ground and Cristian Salvador tries to clear with his chest and the ball goes towards a player from our team who scores a header. That’s what you get. Another thing would be to debate the rule, but the rule is what it is, and it is the same in that game as in this one ”.

The referee did not go to see the play at VAR: “I don’t set the rules. Refereeing and making decisions is very difficult. Being objective, if we ask ten people who are objective and who have watched the game in a calm way at home, they will all say that it is the play of the game in Spain. The way to act in terms of going to see the play or not seeing it, I do not know. We have magnificent professionals in arbitration who are the ones who have to make those kinds of decisions ”.

It took a long time to make the changes: “In the second half my team was eating Huesca, why was it going to make changes. We were playing a magnificent game, closer to taking all three points than to getting a draw. We were good. We have made several changes to the line-up, we also rotated in the previous game. I am very happy with the game that has been played and how everything has been interpreted ”.

Malaga continues without winning away from home: “Today we have done everything to win and one of the best Huesca players has been their goalkeeper. It has made stops of great merit. We lack the goal, win, achieve that security away from home. We leave with a point, fourth week adding, which is important, leaving a clean sheet in a very complicated field and against a great team ”.