Valencia manager hits back at Barcelona’s Rodri over controversial comments: ‘Completely unfortunate’ | OneFootball

Valencia manager Carlos Corberan has responded to comments made by FC Barcelona midfielder Rodri during their La Liga meeting at Mestalla this past weekend.

Cameras captured the Barcelona summer arrival speaking on the bench after being substituted to a standing ovation.

Rodri was heard describing Valencia’s performance with comments including “how bad they are” and “they’re very poor”.

After the clip went viral, Rodri has issued an apology directly to Valencia captain Jose Gaya and later publicly.

Corberan not impressed

And, Corberan has now given his take on what Rodri said, describing the midfielder’s actions as ‘completely unfortunate’.

“They are completely unfortunate words. I don’t think they are words that come from a place of respect towards fellow professionals,” he said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

Rodri’s words did not go down well at Valencia. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The Valencia coach explained that Rodri had subsequently spoken to captain Gaya to apologise, and that the team had accepted it.

“He spoke to Gaya to apologise. We accept his public apology and understand that it was appropriate.”

Corberan also acknowledged the context in which the comments were made, but felt that did not make them appropriate, saying:

“Even if it was in the context of telling a teammate, he had received a standing ovation earlier at Mestalla.”

Corberan refuses to use the controversy as motivation

The subject came up repeatedly during Corberan’s pre-match press conference ahead of Valencia’s meeting with Sevilla on Friday.

The footage has generated considerable discussion in the aftermath of the heavy defeat, particularly at a time when Valencia are looking for a response.

However, Corberan was keen to separate Rodri’s comments from the reaction he expects from his own players.

Rodri has since issued an apology for what he said. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The Valencia boss admitted that his team had not performed at the level required against Barcelona, but pointed to a few incidents that could have changed the course of the match.

“We didn’t have a great game, but a penalty and possible red card for Rodri on Danjuma can change a match, and suddenly the players who seem so bad to you might not seem quite so bad,” he said.

Despite accepting that Valencia fell well below their own standards, Corberán insisted that he would not use Rodri’s comments to motivate his squad.

“We weren’t at the level this squad is capable of. I’m not going to look for motivation in words that I don’t share.”

For the Valencia manager, the response has to come from the club’s identity and its supporters rather than from an opponent’s remarks.

“Pride has to come from the badge and from our people. We have to show anger and desire. Unfortunate words have to be left as exactly what they are,” he concluded.