Ayala: "It was more of a shove than a punch; if I see Olmo in person, I will apologize"

The coach acknowledges on "Valencia Capital Radio" that he was wrong and that he is sorry

Fabián Ayala was one of the main figures in the brawl at the end of the match that marred the start of Spain's celebration. From Buenos Aires, he answered the call from Valencia Capital Radio after the punch he threw at Dani Olmo on the pitch. The centre-back, who left a great impression during his time at Valencia, admitted it was a mistake and acknowledged that he would like to meet the Barcelona player to apologize to him in person.

'How are you? "After a match like that you need days. We had a spectacular welcome from the people with the affection we received, that helps to calm things down. But you keep replaying the match, watching and analyzing it. On the trip back we were together and we hardly slept, and we talked about the match and the cycle. In the end, on balance, what has been done during these almost eight years in charge of the national team is positive".'

After a match like that you need days

Image damaged by how it ended: "It's a shame and you have to own up to what you did on the pitch. When the match ends I see that there's a scuffle in the middle of the field and I go over so it doesn't end that way, because that's not who we are. I take responsibility for what I did. My intention was to go and break it up and nothing more. Sometimes you find yourself with things that happen when your adrenaline is through the roof... and that's no excuse. I can't do that no matter what I may have received. I went in to separate them. Things have to stop now. It was more of a shove than anything else, it wasn't a punch. It was a reaction to something they said, but if I see Olmo I'll apologize to him in person. Lately there has been a certain animosity toward our national team. They wanted our national team not to do well. We play for our people. In the position I hold I can't allow a feeling to change my actions. I'm sorry."

I take responsibility for what I did. My intention was to go in and break it up, nothing more. Sometimes you find yourself in situations that happen with your adrenaline through the roof...

Congratulating Spain and the conspiracy: "They were superior and deserving of the World Cup. We got a part of our game going because maybe we didn't have the 2022 game in our legs. We have to congratulate Spain. It was better and beat us. It was one more learning experience for us. Spain played beautiful football that many people like. There was nothing in the dressing room, there was simply a team that played better, was superior and won".

They were superior and deserving of the World Cup

Enzo's sending-off and the refereeing: "The referee had his game. I don't know how to describe it. He didn't call the small plays. They were fouls that he let go. I think he rushed the first yellow card in the sending-off. The second is a fairly head-on play that is a yellow because of the force with which he goes in. We cannot fall into the issue of saying that the referee was bad. I think that, officiating the final, he did well".