Javi Gracia believes Gorka Iraizoz’s equaliser should have stood in the match between Malaga and Athletic Bilbao.
The Athletic goalkeeper converted a header in the closing moments of the match to cancel out Luis Alberto’s penalty.
But the goal was disallowed, helping Malaga to a 1-0 win over the Champions League competitors, although it wasn’t entirely clear even to Gracia why.
“I saw it as a goal. He was more like a striker than a goalkeeper,” Gracia said after the match, according to Marca.
“I saw the linesman raise his flag immediately but I don’t know why.”
Gracia added that the victory was achieved due to how hard the team worked over the summer, but insisted he wasn’t getting carried away.
“We’re strengthened by the points, they give us encouragement and security, but it’s the first game,” he went on.
“They’re only three points, we know that very well, but the reward isn’t only for work today but throughout the summer.”
