Alejandro Pozuelo had a simple message after Toronto FC’s 3-0 loss at Real Salt Lake on Saturday afternoon.
“I want to say that I spoke with some players and I want to say sorry because it is a difficult situation,” the Spaniard said postgame. “I know we lost 3-0 and the red card, so the team needed to play with 10, so it’s not good for me and not good for the team. I need to learn from this red card, and we need to continue.”
They were reflective words from the playmaker, who was shown a second yellow in the 61st minute, reducing the Reds to 10 men as they were trailing 2-0. TFC had introduced Jozy Altidore at halftime in an attempt to claw back into the match, but Pozuelo’s dismissal halted that potential.
To prompt the card, Pozuelo clipped Sebastian Saucedo from behind with the ball several yards away. It was a straightforward decision from head referee Joseph Dickerson.
“Yes, because in the game we lost 3-0, they played short and it was frustrating,” Pozuelo said when asked if the card was fair. “I want to kill somebody, but I shouldn’t do something like this. I want to say sorry to the team because it was difficult, we lost 3-0 and we had to play with 10.
“I need to learn fast and I hope Sunday we can win at home. We can train and we can change the mentality and we can win.”
Up next, Toronto will host the San Jose Earthquakes on May 26 looking to stop an 0-3-1 skid. However, they’ll have to do that without their maestro, one who has five goals and six assists on the season.
