Atlético is injured, with the spirit on the ground And, as if that were not enough, in three days a figure will be waiting for you that makes the team very tense. The rojiblancos visit Cádiz this Sunday (18:30) and Gil Manzano will be there dispensing justice. The least desired referee at the least opportune moment for an Atleti on the wire.
The list of dislikes for the rojiblancos when the Extremadura whistles is long. The last episode arrived in September, Atlético-Athletic. It was not only the expulsion of João Félix —In an action that began with a grab on him— but a series of yellows that had the players unhinged. And in the last play of the game, cut a very dangerous counter with Carrasco thrown towards Simón. After the meeting, the Belgian himself and Savic regretted that he is a referee with whom it is not possible to dialogue and even Andrea BertaAccording to the minutes, he protested indignantly: “This referee will not come back here. Never again. He is very bad.” Even the Peñas issued a statement demanding that Gil Manzano not whistle at Atleti again. Two months later, all the faces are seen again.
In truth, the tension with the international referee comes from afar. And from the locker room they always insist that It is more a question of the attitude you have with them than of some serious punctual action, as it could be a penalty not called. That feeling that “there can be no dialogue” with him. Even so, last season, Atlético already felt harmed at Sánchez-Pizjuán by a hand from Ocampos in the play that ended in 1-0, final score. On that night, the rojiblanco team was loaded with yellows …
LLUIS GENE (AFP)
Maybe the most remembered fire is that of the Camp Nou, with Diego Costa as the protagonist, in 2018-19. The forward snapped a “I shit on your p … mother” to the referee and was correctly expelled. Gil Manzano added in the minutes that Costa had held him by the arms and the final punishment was shot up to eight games of suspension. Also against Barça, but in the Copa del Rey, the team was left with ten per expulsion in the changing room tunnel by Gabi, who claimed a previous hand from Jordi Alba, who saved a goal and scored against the Barça team.