Lopetegui furious with pitch and officials after Sevilla lose ground on Real Madrid

Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui angrily bemoaned the state of Rayo Vallecano’s pitch, questioning whether their game on Sunday should have gone ahead after his side dropped critical points.

The 1-1 draw in Vallecas keeps Sevilla second but could see them end the matchday 10 points behind league-leaders Real Madrid, who are still to play Real Mallorca on Monday.

Despite the potential title implications, Lopetegui was seemingly more concerned with the pitch quality and how that reflects on LaLiga.

“In a scenario like this, you should not play this game in the Spanish league. I say this for ourselves and Rayo, which is a team that proposes to actually play football,” he said post-match.

“It is not good for the league or for the competition and it is also not good for the health of the footballers. The state of the grass is unfortunate.”

Julen Lopetegui: “I can’t give an opinion on VAR, I can’t interpret it”. #RayoSevillaFC pic.twitter.com/tUucwsbgpR

— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) March 13, 2022

His criticism did not stop there, however.

The 55-year-old coach saved some for referee Juan Martinez Munuera, with a goal and penalty for Rafa Mir taken away following separate VAR interventions.

The overturned penalty in the 79th minute, with Sevilla chasing a late winner, was particularly contentious as Mir was brought down after apparent contact with Alejandro Catena.

“The referee’s action has been decisive. He has annulled a goal and also the action for the penalty. The referees told us that grey areas in decisions are not re-arbitrated and that is why I do not understand,” Lopetegui said.

“If we enter into that dynamic, VAR does not have an end. I am surprised by that decision that would not have happened in other games and I am confused by the criteria with VAR that it’s necessary to correct the black and white, but not the grey.

“I think it is an issue to be resolved clearly, but while the issue is being resolved we feel harmed.”