Crushed: Real Betis Defender Paulao Makes Two Costly Errors For Relegation-Threatened Side, Begs To Be Subbed Off After 30 Minutes (Video)

Chris Wright

22nd, April 2014

7 Comments

By Chris Wright

Soccer - Pre Season Friendly - Everton v Real Betis - Goodison Park

Spare a thought for Real Betis centre-back Paulao, who endured a rotten old afternoon against Rayo Vallecano at the weekend as his two early, almost back-to-back defensive rickets saw Betis pretty much consigned to their fate as relegation certs.

Both errors led directly to goals for Vallecano; the first being a limp, woefully under-hit back-pass that allowed Ruben Rochina to nip in and put Rayo 1-0 up after just 14 minutes, and the second coming 12 minutes later when the hapless Brazilian defender shanked a hopeful cross into the box from Anaitz Arbilla into the back of his own goal via his shinpad.

As Paulao lay in an inconsolable heap on the floor, Rayo captain Roberto Trashorras offered to help him back to his feet and it was at that point the Betis man’s spirit broke entirely as he looked mournfully over at the bench and asked to be put out of his misery by making the internationally-recognised “sub me off” hand gesture.

Betis coach Gabriel Calderon duly obliged and subbed him off, with poor old Paulao spending the rest of the game softly sobbing on the bench.

“He couldn’t cope with feeling responsible; he couldn’t carry on after the mistake,” said Betis coach Calderon after the match.

Betis, already bottom of the Liga table coming into the game, went on to lose 3-1, Paulao having an unwitting and unwanted hand in both of the first two goals – leaving them 10 points adrift of safety with just four games remaining.

It ain’t looking good.

Posted in FAIL, La Liga, Newsnow, Videos

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7 Comments

  1. Nuno says:

    Got to feel bad for the guy, it just went awfully bad.
    But the final score was actually 3-1

  2. Wimpy Jones says:

    I know how he felt. Happened to me at the final of a school cup back in the days. We reached it for the first time in 10 years and played at the ground of a second league team before their match. I scored an own goal and caused the free kick which gave them the 2-0 lead. Told my manager at half time, I had problems with my harmstrings, which was a lie. Just didn’t want to fuck up even more. Not very proud of being such a pussy back then.

    Greetings from Germany!

  3. Easy to forget that footballers are as fragile as the rest of us. I’m sure he’ll bounce back — if Betis’ are relegated it won’t be because of one match.

  4. Joe says:

    Bottler.

  5. Jarren says:

    @James C. Taylor: Quite true. I doubt he messed up this much in every league game, so while he had a nightmare here he shouldn’t feel too bad.

    All he can do is play to his best next season and try to get Real Betis back up again.

    If he can put in a sterling defensive display next season he’ll be a hero.

  6. Mas Bono says:

    it’s nice to see that his fellow team mates and opponents are all offering help. it’s such a nice thing to see, despite his errors of course.

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