Carlo Ancelotti had never experienced anything like that. “Something unprecedented has happened. This has never happened to me and there is nothing more to add. I think he made a mistake,” said the coach after Real Madrid’s 2-2 (1-2) draw at Valencia FC.
The Spanish football record champions thought they were the winner on Saturday after a header from Jude Bellingham in long added time. But the goal didn’t count because referee Jesús Gil Manzano blew the whistle while the cross was being hit. Bellingham protested violently and was shown a red card.
“We are totally mad”
“We were annoyed about Bellingham’s red card because he didn’t say anything offensive. It was disappointment. He said ‘fucking goal’ and that’s the truth,” said the 64-year-old Ancelotti. “We are totally angry.” Real protested against the sending off. “Let’s see what the referee writes in the minutes.” According to Spanish media, Bellingham said: “Damn it, that’s a goal! The ball is in the air. What the hell is that?”
Real remains the leader with 66 points ahead of FC Girona (6.30 p.m. on DAZN) in Mallorca, which, like third-placed FC Barcelona, only plays in Bilbao on Sunday (9 p.m. on DAZN). On Wednesday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and on DAZN) RB Leipzig will be guests of the Royals for the second leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League, who won the first leg 1-0.
“We have to return to normality because we have an important game,” said Ancelotti with a view to the upcoming tasks. In Valencia, Hugo Duro (27th minute) and Roman Jaremtschuk (30th) gave the hosts a 2-0 lead within three minutes. Vinicius Junior, who had already been the target of racist insults in Valencia, reduced the deficit in stoppage time in the first half.
The Real team with Antonio Rüdiger, Toni Kroos and the recovered Bellingham pressed for the equalizer after the break, which was once again provided by Vinicius Junior (76th). The missed goal by former BVB star Bellingham was the final point of the 100-minute game. “If he whistles when the ball is cleared, fine, but he lets it continue and we had the opportunity,” Ancelotti said.
Michael Horeni Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 13 Hans-Günter Kellner, Madrid Published/Updated: Recommendations: 20 Marcus Erberich, Manchester Published/Updated: Recommendations: 14
Manzano’s decision to whistle the game during what was supposed to be the last action was a scandal that “will go down in football history,” as Real’s home and court newspaper “Marca” claimed. Manzano experienced his “worst hour as a referee”. The former top Spanish referee Alfonso Perez Burrull saw it differently: Manzano acted correctly and was allowed to blow the whistle at the cross, he said on “Radio Marca”.
