Sheffield Wednesday v Reading: Carlos Carvalhal vows to keep his cool in heat of play-off race

Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal insists his 'high emotions' are not a problem for Championship referees.
flashpoint: Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal was sent to the stands last weekend at Aston Villa for contesting a decision by referee Lee Probert. (Picture: Steve Ellis)flashpoint: Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal was sent to the stands last weekend at Aston Villa for contesting a decision by referee Lee Probert. (Picture: Steve Ellis)
flashpoint: Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal was sent to the stands last weekend at Aston Villa for contesting a decision by referee Lee Probert. (Picture: Steve Ellis)

The Owls boss was fined £2,000 by the Football Association yesterday for “improper conduct” after his touchline behaviour in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

Carvalhal left his technical area after Owls defender Vincent Sasso was shown a straight red card for an ugly lunge on Conor Hourihane.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That was enough for referee Lee Probert to send Carvalhal to the stands, and yesterday the Owls boss accepted his FA punishment.

Carlos Carvalhal was not happy with the officals a fter the recent Brentford defeat (Picture: Steve Ellis)Carlos Carvalhal was not happy with the officals a fter the recent Brentford defeat (Picture: Steve Ellis)
Carlos Carvalhal was not happy with the officals a fter the recent Brentford defeat (Picture: Steve Ellis)

But speaking ahead of tonight’s Championship match with play-off rivals Reading, Portuguese boss Carvalhal explained why his Latin temperament should not leave him exposed to further flashpoints with officials.

“I am a typically Latin guy, a Portuguese, so I can have high emotions,” admitted Carvalhal.

“But I am different from normal Latins, because I calm down easily.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“In that situation, if the referee came to me and said, ‘listen if you don’t be careful, you go out of the technical area, I will send you off’, then sure I will not put one finger over the line. Absolutely sure.

Carlos Carvalhal was not happy with the officals a fter the recent Brentford defeat (Picture: Steve Ellis)Carlos Carvalhal was not happy with the officals a fter the recent Brentford defeat (Picture: Steve Ellis)
Carlos Carvalhal was not happy with the officals a fter the recent Brentford defeat (Picture: Steve Ellis)

“I am an easy person to control when it comes to my emotions. My emotions sometimes run high, that is the reality, but I come back down to earth no problem.

“I don’t think I am difficult to deal with for referees and fourth officials.”

Carvalhal – who agreed Sasso’s red card was the correct decision – judged his own Villa Park sending-off to be harsh, and pointed to the numerous times fellow managers leave their technical areas but escape punishment.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It was a light punishment, no games and the lowest fine. I did not contest it,” he confirmed.

“But I will say I don’t think it was the correct decision.

“I understand the situation, the rules say I can’t go out of my technical area, but I was not complaining about the decision (to send Sasso off).

“I didn’t insult anybody, or use bad words, but they said I was out of my technical area. That’s why I was surprised.

“But I see a lot of managers come out of their technical area. I hope they don’t make a rule like this, or 95 per cent of managers will be out of the games.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sixth-placed Wednesday have collected just four points from their last five games, allowing Fulham – sitting seventh – to close the gap on the play-off places to just a single point.

A crippling injury list has been a mitigating factor, with the Owls missing key first-teamers in Kieran Lee, Tom Lees, Sam Hutchinson, Fernando Forestieri and Gary Hooper.

Added to that, captain Glenn Loovens limped off injured while Sasso was sent off at Villa Park.

Carvalhal confirmed Lees – who has not played since January – and Dutchman Loovens will return tonight, but refused to give updates on the rest of his injured players.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Don’t ask me about the injured players, I well tell you absolutely nothing, sorry,” he said.

“I will just tell you that Tom Lees and Glenn Loovens are ready, after that I will not mention anybody.

“I am a manager to solve the problems, not create them. I am here to try and win the game. We are completely focused on the game, and attacking fifth position. All the games are important, but it’s no more than three points, an important three points for both teams.

“What is important is we have nine games to complete and we can challenge for fifth position (against Reading). That’s our target, and we need the support of our fans at Hillsborough to achieve these important three points.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Owls currently have 62 points with nine games remaining. With Fulham still to visit Hillsborough, Wednesday’s play-off fate remains in their own hands.

Owls midfielder David Jones said: “You want it in your hands. We have nine games to get more points than the teams around us and we are confident of doing that.

“We know if we can consistently put it together we are a threat and a very difficult team. We can beat anyone and we have proven that.”

Last six games: Sheffield Wednesday WLLWDL Reading WLLWDL.

Referee: G Eltringham (County Durham).

Last time: Sheffield Wednesday 1 Reading 1; August 19, 2015; Championship.