Julen Lopetegui
Julen Lopetegui says it is important to control emotions after they once again spilled over between Wolves and Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. The game saw Forest coach Alan Tate and Wolves’ Pablo Sanz sent off after a flare up between the dugouts. There was also a strong suggestion that Wolves goalscorer Daniel Podence spat at Brennan Johnson, who scored for Forest, although no action was taken. The incidents followed from the Carabao Cup quarter-final, with ended in a mass tussle after Forest won the tie on penalties. The clash between staff during this 1-1 draw came when Wolves were sure they should have had a penalty for a foul on Adama Traore.
Julen Lopetegui said: “I haven’t seen the images. I don’t know if it was a penalty or not,” Lopetegui said. “In this kind of matches there is big emotion but it’s important to keep respect. We are working for our people in front of kids. This is very important for me. I always try to show it. The same way the opposition bench. In these kinds of matches there is big emotion, but it’s important to keep the emotion in football in the same way as it’s important to keep the respect. I want to highlight in football, both things go hand in hand. The emotion, of course we all have, very high, each one fighting for his aims, but in the same way, respect is important. We have responsibilities in this moments. We are fighting for a very important thing. Sometimes emotions get high and it’s important to control them.”
When asked about the incident involving Podence in the 89th minute, which was checked by VAR,
Julen Lopetegui said: “I haven’t talked with Daniel. I haven’t seen this. When I see this back I can answer more.”
