Sampdoria coach Dejan Stankovic tries to contain his fury after a controversial Adrien Rabiot goal paved the way for Juventus to win 4-2. ‘I trust the VAR, but don’t want to be taken for a fool.’
The Blucerchiati continue to put in strong performances and fight to the end, but remain rock bottom of the Serie A table with just 12 points from 26 rounds.
They came back from 2-0 down to equalise 2-2 with two goals in 72 seconds, survived a Dusan Vlahovic penalty onto the upright, but were beaten by Rabiot’s contentious chest and volley, then a last-gasp Matias Soule strike.
“Sampdoria gave everything,” Stankovic told DAZN. “Against a very strong side like Juve, who with the points they amassed would be in second place, we played very well.
“When you concede goals so cheaply, it becomes damaging, and the lads did so well to recover. It could’ve gone very differently, but they never lost their heads.
“If I have to lose, I want it to be with pride. We made too many mistakes on the third and fourth goals. We must work on defending crosses, have the courage to stand up to those who jump in the box.”
There were some controversial situations, as Bremer caught Bruno Amione on the face with the back of his arm in the penalty area while jumping, but above all there are real doubts over Rabiot’s goal for 3-2.
VAR was unable to overturn the decision to give the goal because the footage is insufficient to prove a clear and obvious error, but the suspicion of handball is certainly there.
“I saw an elbow on Amione considered a normal collision. If the referee and VAR saw that as not being handball, then I believe them. But I hope I am wrong.
“Look, you can replay it 20 times, you can still see that it’s handball. The bicep moves. That is all I will say. We had a Manolo Gabbiadini goal disallowed against Empoli at the 96th minute for handball when he was falling over.
“We saw the replay on the tablet and carried on. I trust the referee and VAR if that is what they see, but come on, we accept up to a certain point, then don’t want to be taken for a fool.
“Sorry, maybe we would’ve lost anyway, but let me play a few more minutes at 2-2? My heart bleeds for these lads, they deserve better.”
The Serbian tactician was spotted talking to both Juventus players Vlahovic and Filip Kostic on the touchline. What did he say?
“Dusan is a great striker, he’s having a bad period. I spoke to him like a father does to a son. He is the same age as my eldest. He is a top striker, he mustn’t give up, in these years your career flies past and you have to keep going. He will find his consistency, don’t worry.”