Levante Coach Joaquin Caparros doesn’t believe David Navarro should have been sent off in the 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid.
Navarro was dismissed for a tackle from behind on Cristiano Ronaldo with the score at 2-0 after Ronaldo and Marcelo had found the net for Madrid.
Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, Caparros protested the straight red card shown to the defender.
“There were 12 fouls in the game but we finished a man short,” Caparros said.
“Sendings off like that affect our League. But I don’t want the message in the dressing room to be that I complain about referees.”
Caparros added that going a goal down after little more than 10 minutes was a hammer blow to his side’s chances.
“Conceding so soon made things complicated,” Caparros said.
“We are strong at set pieces and didn’t want to concede like that.
“That goal was like giving them a stick. They’re very strong and have a lot of resources.”
Caparros also explained his thinking behind playing with three central midfielders.
“We wanted to make the game tighter. It’s not the first time we’ve played well and lost.
“The first goal changed everything.
“Real Madrid are in peak form but the presence of Atletico Madrid is making the championship richer.”
