Valencia: Rodrigo begs forgiveness for penalty miss
The Spain striker asked for a penalty in the draw against Valladolid when Dani Parejo is the assigned taker and missed but defended under-fire boss Marcelino.
Valencia striker Rodrigo has apologised for stepping up to take a penalty in his side’s 1-1 draw with Valladolid, a result that has placed the position of Mestalla boss Marcelino in jeopardy after Los Che’s 11th stalemate of the season in LaLiga.
With the scores level at 0-0 at the start of the second half, Calero brought Santi Mina down in the area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Rodrigo duly took responsibility and placed a tame effort into the gloves of Valladolid keeper Jordi Masip, who parried the shot and then made a follow-up save from Mina. Dani Parejo, who eventually gave Valencia the lead in the 70th minute and dedicated his strike to his under-fire manager, is the side’s designated penalty taker and Rodrigo was quick to admit his error after Rubén Alcaraz unleashed an unstoppable free kick late on to deny Valencia three points.
“I’ve been training hard these last few weeks and goals give a lot of confidence to strikers,” Rodrigo told reporters after the game. “Things aren’t coming together for us and I thought it was the perfect situation to help the team. The whole side did a fantastic job and if I hadn’t wasted that opportunity we would have got the three points.”
Rodrigo: "I don’t think it is a good idea to change coach"
Of Marcelino, who faces a nervous weekend with reports of ongoing conversations between the Mestalla board and club’s Singaporean owners, the Spain striker said: “The gaffer has been doing his job and and he has not let the situation get to him at all. He is trying to turn things around. Coaches can only do what they do up to a point, they can’t perform miracles and he can’t take the penalty for me. He assumes his share of the responsibility as the boss, as was the case last year when everything was going well for us, but those that are on the pitch have to take responsibility as well. I don’t think it is a good idea or the right decision to change coach, because the team is showing signs of identity and we believe in his ideas.”
