Guidolin: Udinese worthy of three points

Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin insists his team deserved their win over Lazio on Sunday despite the controversial finish to the encounter.

The hosts were leading 1-0 when Roberto Pereyra netted the sealer in contentious fashion in stoppage time at Stadio Friuli.

A whistle from the crowd confused Lazio players, with Pereyra carrying on with the game and scoring into an empty net to give Udinese an important 2-0 win.

Players and officials were involved in a push and shove on the sidelines afterwards, with Lazio defender Andre Dias sent off.

Despite the controversial finish, Guidolin said his side were the better team and deserved the three points.

“I would have preferred the game to end with a 1-0 victory and without that fight at the end, we didn’t need that, but that doesn’t make us any less satisfied with the great game we played,” he said.

“We deserved the victory. Now we’re fourth on the table, level with other three super teams and I’m really proud of that.”

Guidolin, whose team are level on points with Lazio, Napoli and Inter Milan in the race for the final Champions League spot, said he had not heard the whistle that caused several players to stop.

“It’s simple. A whistle was heard, or more like three whistles, and the Lazio players got angry and protested for that and then a fight started,” he said.

“Personally, I was annoyed by the fact that some of the Lazio players accused me of not being honest, because they asked me if I had heard the whistle and I told them I didn’t hear it, probably because I was shouting at that moment.

“I really didn’t hear the whistle, I swear it. I felt someone judging and questioning my honesty. That’s what I was annoyed by.

“Then I learnt there had been a whistle, and my players confirmed that to me too, but with or without that whistle the game was already close. That’s all.

“The referee gave the goal. It would have been better to end the game at 1-0, without that final goal and the fight that followed, the game was already over. It was 10 seconds from time. We had the ball and the game was finished.”

Lazio coach Edy Reja refused to face the media after the game in protest at the decision.