Almada Expresses Frustration Over Controversial Penalty Decisions

Guillermo Almada appeared serious and delivered a clear message following the match. The Oviedo coach did not conceal his frustration regarding the pivotal moment of the game: the penalty awarded for a handball by Boyomo, which was subsequently annulled after a VAR review. For the Uruguayan coach, this incident left no room for interpretation: “The only head that thought it wasn’t a penalty was the referee’s.”

On the unawarded penalty, he stated: “It hurts tremendously because it was undeserved; we put in the effort for a different outcome, we sought it, and had several opportunities. Once again, there were dubious situations in our favor that went unpunished, which leaves us feeling powerless given the players’ dedication—they gave their all for the result, and we deserved more based on the final score.”

Almada also highlighted another clear penalty incident from the first half: “The stomp on Chaira during the first half was very evident. These are recurring issues in matches; clear situations in our favor often go unwhistled, and unfortunately, they are decisive in the game, regardless of some defensive errors we might make; these situations generate frustration.” He further emphasized the lack of uniformity in refereeing criteria: “The incident involving Chaira was called in the Girona match.”

Regarding commitment, Almada asserted: “We will give everything to turn the situation around. This is the path we must take—to seek opportunities and propose play, ensuring our players continue to represent the fans. I hope we can bring joy to the supporters.”

Almada defended his team’s approach and possession: “We aimed to be more dominant with the ball, and we succeeded, being more profound, but we failed to convert the clear opportunities we created.”

Looking ahead, he concluded: “Playing this way will give us more chances to win than to leave empty-handed as we did this time. We need to lift our heads, heal our wounds, and continue pushing forward, focusing on the many positive aspects of our game while correcting the areas that need improvement.”