Excluded by Clément Turpin after a crowd around the fourth referee in the wake of Luis Henrique's equalizer, this Tuesday evening, against Lille, Medhi Benatia was back. After the elimination of OM, who left the French Cup in the round of 16, the Football director of the Olympian club expressed his incomprehension at the microphone of beIN Sports.
Medhi Benatia :
“I think we had a great match, there is something to be proud of in terms of the performance, the content, what the boys showed. Unfortunately, we took this goal during the course of the game, we got caught in the back and it's 1-0, like in the last matches, we showed a lot of desire, courage and self-sacrifice. We were able to get back into the match thanks to a great goal from Luis. (Henrique)we think we have done the hardest part. Unfortunately we were eliminated on penalties, these things happen. But something happened (this Tuesday) This evening, what I just experienced is serious. We score, I go to the fourth referee to tell him that there was a penalty (sur Jonathan Rowe). There were a lot of people at that time, I removed my coach who was arguing a little with Olivier Létang. Mr. Turpin arrives there and bam, red. I ask the fourth referee: “Me, red?”he answers me: “Yes, you threatened me with the finger”. I know that I don't have the right to speak, to work, anything… When we speak we are not listened to. What is different about me from others? I don’t have the right to defend my team?”
Valentin Rongier:
“We are obviously very disappointed this (Tuesday) evening, we have a group with strong character… We absolutely wanted to win a title this year, the cup was a priority. We had opportunities, more than Lille, we regret them, we could have scored earlier in this match and played a little more calmly. The scenario was different, it came down to details but overall we would have deserved better, it's all the more frustrating. The coach told us he was proud of us and. of what we proposed Overall I think that Lille closed the game and defended very well, we can congratulate them for that.
Bruno Genesio (Lille coach):
“I am happy because we are qualified and it was not easy to do it here, we know the importance of the public at the Vélodrome. We are proud, but we will have to remember this end of the match. I do not want the killjoy, but we barely escaped. There are still things to improve if we want to progress and finish at the top of the Ligue 1 rankings.
Vito Mannone (Lille goalkeeper):
“It's an incredible emotion. We had a difficult match, we suffered, played well at times. Football is a roller coaster. As for me, I made 2-3 saves, I'm sorry on goal, my right foot slips. I really like the shots on goal. I have experienced sessions in England. I have nothing to lose, everything to gain. . Behind my two stops, there is a lot of daily work. Before the penalties, I told all my partners that we were going to qualify. My clash with Balerdi? I speak a little Spanish, I tried to warm him up. He reacted as usual, we know him very well.”
