Valencia's Ruben Baraja on Rafa Mir after alleged sexual assault – 'Rafa was a big disappointment'
Valencia manager Ruben Baraja was not concerned about saving Rafa MirThe feelings of this week, since it continues to come to the heat from the club. Earlier this week, midfielder Pepelu told the media that Mir's behavior was not acceptable, and his manager Baraja backed him up.
Mir was charged with alleged sexual assaultalthough he defends his innocence. Los Che were able to punish him for violating the team's curfew, but clearly there is little they can do about the allegations, since they are not proven.
Baraja explained the disciplinary process.
“It is important to explain things. Our fans have to know what happened and how we acted. There are two moments, when the Rafa episode happens and the club has to evaluate the decision it has to make. It is a decision of the club in which he should not participate, because my task is in the sports area. The club decides to take him back. And that's where I come in, I have to assess the consequence of this situation,” he said Marco.
“The decision has been made that he will be out for two games, this week he will train separately and next week he will join again. From there, he will be just another member of the team and I will decide whether he plays or not. It is very difficult to make an impartial decision that everyone can like, you have to do things with common sense. He understands that his way of acting is not appropriate. As a coach, he decided that an act of indiscipline has consequences and this should lead us to understand that a person can make a mistake and every day do not do well, and have a second chance.
Baraja was also asked about Pepelu's words, and took the responsibility of bringing Mir. He has had a turbulent time in Seville in recent years, and just weeks after his return to Mestalla, Baraja told the media that it was a big disappointment.
“It's simple. Pepelu is an authoritative voice on the road. I am one hundred percent behind his opinion. There are things that cannot be done. Not because the team did not start well, but because we wear a badge on the our chest and we cannot do certain types of things. The dressing room knows that he is a player that we may need this season. In this way, there is a big disappointment on my part.”
“I have to digest that this summer (I brought him), and I believed that Rafa (Mir) could be decisive. Rafa was a big disappointment for me, but I told him that this will make him understand where he is and how things have to be done, at least while I'm here.”
After a tough start to the season that has Valencia bottom of the table, the scandal surrounding Mir is an unwanted distraction for Baraja. Clearly football is not yet the most important aspect of the events, but it is a complicated matter for Valencia to deal with.
