Winger Orellana will not play for Celta Vigo again, says coach

Celta Vigo head coach coach Eduardo Berizzo has said that winger Fabian Orellana will not play for the Spanish football club again following a fallout with the Chilean international as he showed "unacceptable lack of respect" to him.

Berizzo on Tuesday made his comments about one of the most talented players at the club, just 24 hours ahead of Celta's trip to face Real Madrid in the first leg of their King's Cup quarter-final tie on Wednesday night, reports Xinhua.

Orellana, 30, had been expected to return to action following injury in Celta's 1-0 win at home to Alaves at the weekend, but instead cameras focused on his looking angry and seated in the stands of the Balaidos Stadium.

Berizzo, who is in his third season with the club, was highly critical of Orellana in his pre-game press conference, explaining that he had "decided to separate Orellana from the squad because he showed a lack of respect".

"It was an unacceptable lack of respect. My decision will not alter and I have told the club how I feel and the club agrees."

"While I remain as coach he (Orellana) will not form part of the team and more," said Berizzo. He added that Orellana had "not apologised, nor is there any need for him to do so. I have told him my decision and that is the end of the issue."

Berizzo insisted his decision would not affect Celta's preparations for Wednesday's game.

It is not the first time the winger, who has been at Celta since 2011, has had problems with a coach. He had previously had disagreements with current Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, during his spell at Celta Vigo, as well as at Granada (his previous club) with Fabri Gonzalez.

In 2015, he commented that former Chile head coach Jorge Sampaoli "doesn't like me either as a player or a person".

--IANS

pur/vt