Everton defender Yerry Mina’s gamesmanship “is part of the game” and nothing more, despite criticism of his efforts to shackle Manchester City’s Erling Haaland from Pep Guardiola.
That’s according to former Colombia international Iván René Valenciano, who believes the Spanish coach has blown the situation out of proportion.
Mina found himself being heavily criticised by Guardiola following Manchester City’s win over Everton on Sunday, in which the Colombian was tasked with keeping Haaland quiet.
That was something he enjoyed some success in, despite the Norwegian superstar getting himself on the scoresheet, although the manner in which he did it was questioned by Pep Guardiola after the game.
The accusation from that image was that the Everton man had spent the game pinching and annoying Haaland in various ways, something which clearly upset Guardiola.
Valenciano is having none of that, though, and believes the Manchester City manager’s criticism is unwarranted.
“Many times, I came out not only scratched but battered and with bruised ankles, and bruises because there were players who put their fists into you,” he told El Vbar Caracol.
“I don’t understand why he takes what happened so much, maybe because he is Haaland, a Manchester City player and international football star.
“It’s not so bad to say that Yerry Mina was, in inverted commas, an animal who grabbed, mistreated and spoiled him. For me it wasn’t like that, that’s part of the game. I also had to suffer with several central defenders.”
