Valencia coach Carlos Corberán blasts Rodri: 'His words do not come from respect'

Valencia manager Carlos Corberán has strongly reacted to controversial comments by Barcelona midfielder Rodri. In a press conference ahead of the match against Sevilla, Corberán stated that Rodri's words were 'completely unfortunate' and 'do not come from a place of respect for fellow professionals'. The incident stemmed from an interview where Rodri made remarks considered disrespectful towards Valencia. This caused unease within the Mestalla club. Captain José Luis Gayà took the initiative to contact Rodri personally. Subsequently, the Spanish midfielder issued a public apology. Corberán confirmed: 'Rodri has offered a public apology, we accept it and consider it pertinent. However, I still emphasize that the initial statements were unacceptable – we accept the apology because it's the minimum that can be expected.' The 41-year-old coach also recalled that Rodri had previously been warmly welcomed at Mestalla, even receiving recognition from Valencia fans after his successes with the Spanish national team. Therefore, the recent comments were even more disappointing. Beyond the Rodri episode, Corberán also faces pressure regarding his own future. Before the away match at Sánchez Pizjuán, he declined to speculate on possible dismissal, stating he is solely focused on delivering a good performance. The clash between Valencia and Sevilla promises to be intense, not only on the pitch but also due to these off-field tensions.