A soccer player in an orange uniform is challenged by a player in a blue and white uniform during a match, while a commentator watches in a small frame.
Manolo González openly shares his opinion about the kick Mbappé received from Carlos Romero | Camara Real Madrid Confidencial
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Manolo González's unfortunate comment after Espanyol-Real Madrid: 'If he...'

The Espanyol coach assessed the controversy surrounding his player Carlos Romero in a very particular way.

by

Enrique Sanz

Real Madrid can't take the three points from their visit to the RCDE Stadium after a match that became very challenging for Carlo Ancelotti's players. The discreet performance of the scheme proposed by the Italian strategist not only occupies debates among Madridists: the brutal kick by Carlos Romero on Kylian Mbappé does as well.

The Espanyol player, to prevent a counterattack led by the Bondy striker, decided to go for the French forward's left leg. Thus, the 'perico' player hits Kylian Mbappé's left calf with the studs of his right boot, sending him instantly to the ground. The resolution of the action, of very serious consideration, was settled with a simple yellow card from Muñiz Ruiz.

A player in an orange uniform is knocked down by an opponent in a blue uniform during a match, while the crowd watches from the stands.
Kylian Mbappé suffered a very hard tackle during his visit to RCDE Stadium | Didac Aguirre

After the match, the Espanyol coach had to respond about the action carried out by his player, Manolo González himself understands it as "a hard tackle." Likewise, "I think it's a yellow card situation, I don't think it's a situation to cause harm." Judging by the images of Mbappé right after receiving the kick from Carlos Romero, everything suggests that the Madridist '9' felt pain in his left leg.

That tackle, Manolo González points out, "is to stop a counter, but it's not a situation to injure the opponent. I don't see it as such an exaggerated tackle, if you really see it, he doesn't even touch him." The disbelief caused by these statements among Madridists doesn't end there, as his last words about the action have sparked a very intense debate on social media.

Difference of opinion

Manolo González assessed the tackle in the following terms: "if he had caught him, then maybe it is an action for a red card. But it's not a situation where he touched the opponent in a dangerous way," the Espanyol coach concludes in his post-match interview for DAZN.

These words from the Catalan team's coach have provoked all kinds of reactions across social media, even leaving unanimity in the refereeing analyzes of the media. But Manolo González seems to see it in a completely opposite way as he made clear after the clash at the RCDE Stadium.

A bald man with a beard and crossed arms, wearing a dark sports jersey, is standing in front of a blue background.
Manolo González, Espanyol coach | Real Madrid Confidencial

As things stand, Real Madrid loses three very important points to continue their defense of the LaLiga leadership. Especially thanks to Atlético Madrid's victory against Real Mallorca, which reduces the gap between the two clubs to just one point... right on the eve of the Madrid classic to be played at Santiago Bernabéu.

That makes the match, situated in the run-up to the first leg of the round of 16 against Manchester City, one of the matches marked in red on the calendar. Carlo Ancelotti's players can't afford to fail because one of the two most important titles of the current season is at stake.

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