"He wasn't even going to call a foul!" | Iraola on Gravenberch red card after Liverpool lose to City
Iraola on the red card changing the game and facing Man City with 10 men
This is Iraola's post-match press conference after his side lost to Man City following a red card, focusing on the controversy around Ryan Gravenberch's sending-off, the difficulty of playing with 10 men, and the performances of his players and fans. His conclusion is that the red card changed the match, he strongly disputes the first yellow card, and he defends the team's overall attitude and the supporters.
- The red card was the decisive moment; his team were better before it, but Man City were better once they had the extra man — The match changed after the red card in the 62nd minute and felt like two different games
- Ryan's first yellow card was a wrong decision — There was no danger, just a toe stop, Anderson carried on a few steps before going down, and the referee was not even going to give a foul; with nine players behind the ball it was not a normal dangerous midfield foul, so the yellow made no sense
- Facing Man City with 10 men is very difficult and forces you to wait and defend lower — Pressing them 11 against 11 is already hard, and with one man fewer and tired legs you cannot be as aggressive, especially when 1-0 down
- Ryan Gravenberch played very well and losing him was a shame — He carried the ball and defended well, and up to the red card he was arguably the standout player on the pitch
- He is proud of his players — Although some performed better than others, the collective intensity, duels and commitment were good
- The supporters were top level and exemplary — From arrival through the team's pressing and even after the defeat, they recognised the players' effort
- The injuries do not look too serious, but the players who could not feature today will find it hard to be ready for the next game — The team has to travel to Australia, and the lack of match readiness plus the travel makes it difficult for those players
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Transcript
nil nil hour gone game was in the balance do you think ultimately the decisive moment of that match is the red card >> yes I think it's obvious no I think we've played kind of two games today one game until the 62nd minute I think know where we received the red card and another game after the the red card and I think we have been the best team in the first first game let's say and and they've been better now when we've played with 10 years The red card obviously entails two separate decisions as well. Uh you're obviously not happy that Ryan goes off. Are you are they are they incorrect decisions either of those? >> For me know I I think the referee gets in trouble with the first one because there is no danger. It's just a stop in the big toe. I think even Anderson continues a couple of steps decides to go down. He was not even going to call the foul. He leaves it go. When he goes down he decides I don't know why that is a yellow card. We had like nine players behind the ball. They had a lot of players, you know, it's not like he's in the middle as a normal foul and then >> he gets in trouble in terms of but you put us in trouble obviously. Yes. >> And how difficult having put that much energy in the match is it to face them in particular Man City with 10 men. >> Yes, it's difficult because it's already difficult to press them. No, when you are 11 v 11 so with one less and already the the players also tired, it becomes a different games. So you cannot be as aggressive. You have to wait and defend lower. And also we considered straight away before making any any change ready didn't you? >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Before making any the first substitution we considered that that that play and and after okay you have to still have minutes but you have to play differently when you are one nil down because you have the situation of the game is different >> is another factor there potentially that it wasn't just any player you lost. Ryan Grabner is arguably the outstanding player of the whole match to that point. >> He played really well today. I think Ryan, he was carrying the ball very well. He was defending also very well and is is is a shame. Yes. >> Do you have a couple of players today who maybe didn't have such good days? Perhaps Floren Varkler as well just struggling for a bit of belief. You know how high their their best level is. >> Yeah. I honestly I feel very proud of the players today. I think it was not easy and and I think they've been at the level of in terms of intensity, winning duels, putting everything on the on the pitch. Some of them have played better or maybe not as good, but overall I've like the the collective attitude of the of the players. >> How unique would you say the atmosphere was today? It felt like I'm not going to draw you into it, but the city offfield situation added another element to that match. I think our supporters today have been top level, top level, exemplary from the beginning, since we arrived during the game when we were putting the pressure when we were just before the red car because I think it was in our best moment probably know you could feel no the the the atmosphere and even after when we lost the game and I think they valued know the effort of the players. Uh last question, how soon will you have players back? Because you went into today with well at least three big players uh not available. I saw Dominic just out there. So hopefully not too long on all of those. >> No, I don't think they are too like big injuries, but it's true that we travel to Austral. So it's if they haven't been able no to give us anything today, I think it's going to be difficult that they are ready for the next one. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you.