I couldn`t make the Arsenal game last night because I was in London for a pre-arranged night at the O2 to see Metallica, who were by the way, amazing.
Anyway, rather than cobble together a match report, especially as I couldn`t even listen to the commentary, although I did watch the first half via a dodgy stream on my iPhone at the O2, I thought I`d bring you some of what Daniel Farke had to say after the game, courtesy of football.london
Should Elneny have been sent off?
“I’m not the guy who claims for red cards but I think this situation was obvious because we were in a one-on-one situation to the goalkeeper and that is early 100% true and that is to the determining situation of the game, and the game is done and we’re in the next round.
If Elneny concedes the red card,I think obviously he should have seen the red card, then it’s 11 against 10 and then they are not able to build so much pressure and there are not all these set pieces and then there is no 1-1. So that would be the determining situation too so to accept that situation is quite hard. It’s really hard but it is how it is so sometimes you have to accept mistakes.
Sometimes my players make mistakes, sometimes the opponents, sometimes the referee and I’m pretty sure the ref wants to show his best performance but I think in this decision he was totally [wrong]. It had to be. It’s really annoying because I speak about the topic, small things are determining for the game, and this situation was not a small situation. It was an obvious situation. It’s hard to accept but that is what we have to do tonight.”
What did he make of the penalty shout? Debuchy On Husband.
“I don’t have to interpret it because several players of Arsenal said ‘listen, sorry for you, it was a clear penalty.’ I think I don’t have to add anything to these comments.”
What positives can Norwich take from this?
“I think we have to because we realised although it was really a difficult situation to have this game within 48 hours, I was not in the situation that I could substitute so many lads likes Arsene [Wenger] did, it was a really hard sitaution. Everything seemed to be against us. We were so close for reaching something extraordinary. That’s what we have to keep in mind.”
From what I saw in the first half, especially Nelson`s chance and from the highlights I`ve seen, Oh Mario, it was there for you, on your left foot too, it seems we had plenty enough opportunities to have won the game. That we didn`t is certainly down to the referee BUT you have to take your chances and we just didn`t do that.
Let`s hope James Maddison and Tom Trybull will be okay for Saturday.
OTBC