Leganes goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar has accused Barcelona players of being bad losers after their shock 2-1 defeat on Wednesday.
Leaders Barca fell to their first loss of the season at the Butarque stadium as Leganes — who were bottom of the table before the game — chalked up their first win, but Cuellar hit out at the visitors’ conduct at the final whistle.
“We are a humble side. but I like it when people who are used to winning lose, salute the other team and say congratulations, something Barcelona did not do to any of our players,” the 34-year-old told Cadena Ser radio.
“None of the Barcelona players came after the game to speak to us, and I think that is an ugly gesture. I don’t think anyone noticed, but I wanted to say this.”
Cuellar, whose late double save denied Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic in the closing minutes to seal his first career triumph over Barca, said plenty of people had got in touch to praise him after the match.
“When I got to my locker and I picked up my mobile, it was so heated up — just like the Barca players were!” he said. “I had lots of WhatsApp messages.
“I probably will not see the replays of the saves I made because the most important thing was the work that the team did. One knows perfectly well when one does a good job and when he does badly.”
Leganes fell behind to a Coutinho goal in the 12th minute but hit back with two goals in the space of a minute from Nabil El Zhar and Oscar Rodriguez after the break.
“We started badly and I honestly thought I could have done better on the goal,” Cuellar said. “But Barca didn’t start the second half well and we took advantage in one minute.
“The key was to hold on for the opening 30 minutes of the second half, and we did just that. We really needed this win, It’s very important, more so because it comes against one of the best teams in the world.”
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