Íñigo Pérez calls for fairer treatment of managers after Almeyda's seven-match ban

Rayo Vallecano’s head coach Íñigo Pérez has waded into the debate around managerial suspensions in La Liga, using his pre-match press conference ahead of the Betis game to make the case that coaches are getting a rough deal compared to players when it comes to bans.

The Almeyda Situation

The catalyst for Íñigo’s comments was the seven-match ban handed to Sevilla manager Matías Almeyda following his dismissal and subsequent altercation with fourth official Iosu Galech during the Alavés match. That’s a hefty chunk of games to miss, and Íñigo — without knowing exactly what Almeyda said — made his feelings pretty clear.

He argued that “the harshness with which managers are sanctioned should come down” and that it would be “fair to treat them the same as players” when it comes to disciplinary measures. It’s a fair point, really. A player can get a two or three-match ban for a red card, yet a manager loses his rag on the touchline and suddenly he’s watching eight weeks of football from his sofa.

Good Vibes in the Camp

Away from the referee chat, Íñigo was in decent spirits about the squad’s mood. Rayo picked up a positive result last time out and the gaffer was keen to ride that wave going into a tricky away day at Betis:

• He described the dressing room as having “another energy” after the win
• He’s well aware Pellegrini’s Betis will be a proper test, calling the Chilean a smart tactician who adapts well to his players and opponents
• The message was essentially: enjoy the momentum, but don’t get complacent

The Oviedo Saga

Iñigo also touched on the suspended fixture against Oviedo — a match that was called off after the Vallecas training pitch was in such a state that players literally couldn’t walk on it. He showed empathy towards Oviedo, saying that if Rayo had been notified as late as Oviedo were, they’d have done exactly the same thing. He’s leaving it to the courts to decide on the points, and noted that ultimately it was the fans who suffered most.

Fran Pérez and Squad Rotation

There were also questions about Fran Pérez being left out of the squad, which Íñigo defended with his usual philosophy:

• He doesn’t believe in a fixed first eleven and substitutes — everyone’s in the mix
• He acknowledged some of his decisions look baffling from the outside, but says he backs himself
• With Rayo’s limited resources, he can’t afford to rely on just twelve or fourteen players

His Future at the Club

And for anyone wondering whether Íñigo is eyeing the exit door — he’s not having any of it. He said that when a manager starts talking about leaving, it usually means they’ve already gone mentally. That’s not where he’s at. He described managing Rayo as “a constant emotional debt” — which, knowing this club and its community, feels about right.

Rayo head to the Benito Villamarín on Saturday looking to back up that recent result against a Betis side that’ll fancy their chances at home.