Atlético de Madrid faced a challenging match against Celta de Vigo, which ended in a 1-1 draw at the Metropolitano. The match was marked by the early expulsion of Pablo Barrios, leaving Diego Simeone's team with ten players from the 6th minute. Additionally, controversy arose with the penalty called on Robin Le Normand, which allowed the Galician team to equalize the score.
After the match, José María Giménez, one of the leaders of the red-and-white team, analyzed what happened in an interview with DAZN. The Uruguayan center-back didn't hold back and made very clear statements about Barrios's expulsion, the penalty on Le Normand, and his own yellow card.
The Penalty on Le Normand: "I Didn't See Either a Penalty or No Penalty"
One of the most controversial moments of the match was the penalty called on Borja Iglesias, which referee Isidro Díaz de Mera signaled after the VAR intervention. José María Giménez, who was close to the action, admitted that he didn't see clear contact live.
"I don't know, I see that Borja is going to receive, between Robin and me, when he was going to control outward, because the pass went backward, he suddenly screamed. I didn't really see a big hit or anything clear, clear. I didn't understand, maybe in the replay he stepped on him, I can't say what I saw, because I didn't see anything. I didn't see either a penalty or no penalty, it was so fast that when he falls... I don't know if he stepped on him."
Barrios's Red Card: "It Was a Strong Play"
Another key moment of the match was Pablo Barrios's expulsion, which left Atlético with one less player from the start. Giménez, always honest, acknowledged that the red card was fair.
"He's hurt, he's sad, because it's at the start of the match, but it was a strong play, it was very high. I think the expulsion was correct." The Uruguayan center-back showed his support for his teammate but also made it clear that Barrios must learn from the action to prevent it from happening again in the future.
Giménez's Yellow Card: "I Told Him He Was Wrong"
The red-and-white defender was also booked in the match, something he didn't quite understand. "Sometimes, one releases the anger on oneself. I get angry inside, for me, and he gave me a yellow card, I asked him why he gave me a yellow card, I told him he was wrong. I didn't say anything to him, but he gave me a yellow card, that's it, what am I going to do."