Pako Ayestaran was happy with Valencia’s performance against Real Madrid but not that of the officials, after a controversial goal and sending off.
Karim Benzema scored in the 3-2 win for Los Blancos but appeared to be in an offside position, while Rodrigo Moreno, scorer of Los Che’s first goal, was sent off late in the second half for something he said.
“I’m satisfied. I think that at this level Valencia can return to their rightful place. We were unlucky. The referee [David Fernandez Borbalan] and the linesman didn’t do very well. I can’t understand how you can’t see an offside, a metre-and-a-half. But we had chances and I think a draw would have been fair,” Ayestaran argued, AS reports.
“The referee has done what he’s done and confused everyone. He knows he’s made a mistake. What Rodrigo said, most of the time nothing happens, but this time he’s gotten a red card.
“Did the ref’s mistakes cost us? If it hadn’t been for the mistakes we all make, we would have won, yes. We thought it would be a game of transitions in the second half and we lacked depth, we didn’t have people forward, then we wanted to change and we did more.”
Ayestaran’s future at Mestalla is unclear and he batted back questions about anything other than the final game of the season, when Valencia host Real Sociedad in a game with little riding on it.
“Next year? I care about today. We’ve got another game. Let’s see where the future takes everyone,” he replied, giving similar treatment to a question about a permanent move for Denis Cheryshev.
“That’s for [sporting director] Jesus Pitarch. My immediate future is the next game.”
