After Wolves were not given a penalty against Newcastle United last weekend, the head coach believed his team were denied a ‘very clear’ penalty once again after Nelson Semedo was caught by Junior Firpo inside the penalty area moments after Leeds had taken the lead in the match, but Lopetegui also acknowledged how his players need to improve after conceding four goals from four shots on target.
On defeat against Leeds
“I am with a big frustration because we didn’t deserve to lose this match – for a lot of reasons, but this is football and the right thing doesn’t always happen in football. I think we suffered very early and that was the only chance they had in the first-half and we had a lot of chances, in a very good first-half.
“It’s true that we missed a lot of chances and in the second-half, we suffered two goals too easily, and we don’t have to concede these goals because we are working in a good way and we are able to change the score in the second-half, but the two goals made it more difficult. It became a crazy match and we scored two goals and again we had a lot of chances to draw the match.”
On Semedo’s penalty claims
“We should have had a penalty, it was very, very clear, but I don’t know what’s happening with us again. These fans deserve the same respect as all the other teams in the Premier League, so I don’t know why it’s us, because it’s one other decision. I can tell you very clearly about five other penalties [Wolves should have had this season].
“It's about opinion. You have to have an opinion and I have to give you my opinion as a coach, and the penalty I have seen is clear. It’s very, very clear, he didn’t touch the ball, he touched [Semedo’s] knee.
“I had to change him in the second-half for this injury, so it’s very clear that he didn’t touch the ball. In the last match it was a penalty, but we only received and apology, but we don’t want apologies, we want fairness.”
On Jonny’s red card
“We suffered the third goal after a very clear fault. I don’t know why the referee went to see the VAR for the red card with Jonny, maybe he lost the ball, but there wasn’t any intention to damage the opposition.
“Then he didn’t give a very clear foul on Adama, but we have to change our luck. I don’t know what we are doing here, but we are unlucky and the fans of Wolves deserve the same respect as the rest of the teams.
“There are always mistakes in football, but when you have the same mistakes always against the same team – then, I don’t know.”
On Matheus Nunes’ sending off
“I have seen the red card for Matheus Nunes and I think they are going to review because he was complaining to the linesman, but the linesman walks back into him. I don’t know, but I think they will change this red card.”
On slack defending for Leeds’ goals
“Today, the team has made a big effort, but they scored four times from four shots on goal, so we have to improve in this situation and we have a lot of chances that we have to improve. The second goal, of course, it was a big mistake and we have to improve this.
“It’s more difficult when you are working in a very good way and you concede a goal like this. But the match had a lot of moments and it’s not easy to analyse the match for me
“First, we missed a lot of chances, a lot, maybe the match with more chances and any other, and after, we conceded easy goals, especially the second one, which made it more difficult for us, and of course, I have talked about the decisions that we haven’t had but we have to continue working and improving.”
On working during the international break
“We’re not happy because we lost three important points, against a direct rival, but we have to continue in a big race and continue to work like it’s 10 finals, but finals you can only play one by one.
“We have to put the focus in the next one knowing we have done very good things in this match too, knowing that we didn’t deserve to lose today, but knowing that it’s not enough.”
