Foyth urges players to protest less over refereeing decisions

“If you’re asking for something on every play… the referee is a human being and can make mistakes,” Juan Foyth said. After the match at the Bernabéu, the Villarreal player defended the officiating and argued that repeated protests can make the referee’s job more difficult.

Speaking in the mixed zone, Foyth reflected on a match in which his team came away without points despite going toe-to-toe with Real Madrid. He lamented the missed chances and acknowledged that the group was dissatisfied, while also highlighting the work it had put in during the game.

The Argentine said Villarreal had opportunities to get a better result. “We came looking for the three points […] and it’s a shame, because I think we had chances to do it, but we didn’t,” he said. He added that his team had chances to equalise, while acknowledging that it should have approached some moments more calmly. Despite the work put in, he stressed, the group left dissatisfied.

Foyth also addressed Vinicius’s sending-off and the tension during the match. In his view, the decision was in keeping with the rules, although he did not think Vinicius had intended to hurt anyone. He said the referee had done a good job in an environment of considerable pressure, and urged players not to contest every decision, particularly by routinely demanding a card.

Without wanting to fuel controversy, Foyth also acknowledged that Real Madrid needed the three points and congratulated them on the win. His message for Villarreal therefore combined regret at letting chances go and the need to correct the mistakes made, while recognising the work done on the pitch.