“It’s been a long time,” Abelardo confessed yesterday to the media before getting on the plane to remember that fateful March 3, 2016. David Barral, one of Sporting’s most important strikers in recent times, became that day in the antihero of sportinguismo for an action as controversial as it is functional: Estrada Fernández whistled for a penalty when he perceived that Omar Mascarell knocked down the Andalusian striker, causing the 1-0 and leaving Pitu’s men very touched. David Barral, the protagonist, attends LA NUEVA ESPAÑA. Today he is coach of youth A of San Fernando de Henares. Although it has rained a lot since then, he remembers perfectly what that action was like. He confesses to being very clear that it was an infraction: “it was a provoked penalty”. Modern history of the club from Gijón, recognizes that he goes with Sporting.
–Who are you going with?
–With Sporting! Always. There is no team that is above. I was there six years. I was marked.
–Will you watch the game in Los Cármenes?
-I dont know. It’s just that now I’m more into other things: watching youth games in Madrid, first RFEF… I’ll try to watch it.
-Where is he now?
-I am the coach of youth A of San Fernando de Henares.
-Since when?
I started a month ago.
-Likes?
-Much. Much. It’s something she’s been thinking about for a long time.
–How much has Preciado influenced you in that decision?
– In being a coach? In nothing. But it has influenced me in how I work with the players. In the methods he used to manage the template. I use them today too.
–That is to say: at 39 years old, have you hung up your boots?
–No… Well… it depends. The boots are currently hanging. But if something comes up that catches my attention at any time, I pick them up (laughs).
– It is not blunt.
-It’s just that I still don’t have it clear, but now I’m more committed as a coach, yes.
-In any case, do you consider another exotic adventure?
-Not anymore. Now I would only play in Madrid or near here… I don’t see it anymore.
–Are you following Abelardo’s Sporting? They have started the competition well. They are rooms.
–Not much… I have my time occupied with watching matches.
Do you remember that match in 2016?
-Yes of course…
-It’s been a long time. I ask you: was it a Mascarell penalty?
-Yes. It was a provoked penalty.
–A provoked penalty? Explain yourself. Abelardo, at the time, described the action as a “robbery”. There were also more reactions: Mascarell, Cuéllar…
–It is that in football there are also penalties that are caused by the attacker and that are still penalties: I put my leg in front of the defender (Mascarell) and fell to the ground knocked down.
– Have you seen the play again?
-Of course. I have it saved on my mobile.
-Cast?
–I keep many videos of goals and some plays on my mobile. I’ve seen it many times, yes.
-And after seeing it you still think it’s a penalty?
-The more times I see it, the clearer it is: it was a provoked penalty.
