Corberan not letting it slide
Carlos Corberan was asked on Thursday about remarks made by Barcelona midfielder Rodri. Valencia’s coach made no attempt to hide his irritation.
“Those were very disappointing comments. They are not the words of a player who respects his fellow professionals,” he said at his news conference. Even so, he acknowledged the Barcelona man’s response. “Gaya took the initiative to speak to him. We accept his public apology and believe he did what he had to do.”
One thing still sticks in the Valencia throat. “Even if it was said in private, he was cheered by the crowd,” Corberan noted, calling the reception “disappointing”.
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A conversation caught by the cameras
Back to last weekend. Movistar cameras picked up an exchange between Rodri and team-mate Pau Cubarsi. In it, the Barcelona midfielder tore into the Valencia players’ level. He called them “soft”, “useless” and “pathetic”, and even brought up where they finished last season.
The clip was shown. The backlash followed almost immediately.
Private apologies, then a public one
Rodri responded in two stages. First, he contacted Jose Luis Gaya, Valencia’s captain. He then apologised publicly.
The gesture was welcomed on the Valencia side. Corberan said it himself: the apologies have been accepted and the player did what he needed to do. But that ovation from the stands after the footage aired still rankles at Mestalla.
Valencia are back in action on Friday in Seville. Corberan will almost certainly have a few more things to deal with in his next news conference.
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