Simeone praises Real Madrid’s Valverde for red card in Spanish Super Cup
Jeddah, Monday
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone says he would have done exactly the same thing as Federico Valverde after the Real Madrid midfielder’s match-saving professional foul in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia as Real won their 11th Cup title.
The Uruguayan was shown a straight red card for hacking down Alvaro Morata as the striker burst clean through on goal deep into extra-time on Sunday night, with Real winning the penalty shootout that followed moments later.
Valverde sought out Morata after the game to say sorry for his foul, but Atletico boss Simeone feels there is no need for the Real midfielder to apologise.
‘I think the award for the best player makes perfect sense because Valverde won the game with that action,’ said Simeone at his post-match press conference.
‘It was the most important play of the game. If the play continued, it was possibly a goal.’
When Valverde left the pitch he was jeered by the crowd but got support from both his own manager, Zinedine Zidane, and Simeone as he walked past the dugout.
Simeone continued: ‘I told him not to worry, that he did is what he had to do. We will see how many days [suspension] they give him.’
Valverde was grateful for Simeone’s support, saying: ‘I want to recognize Simeone, who also came over and said some words that I won’t say. But I want to highlight it because nobody does it.’
Thibaut Courtois proved the hero on Sunday as Real comfortably won the shootout 4-1, with Sergio Ramos scoring the cup-winning final penalty, and he too praised Valverde for taking one for the team.
Courtois and Jan Oblak were both imperious during a goalless final in Jeddah but the Belgian came up trumps, saving Thomas Partey’s penalty after Saul Niguez had already hit the post. -AFP
