Valencia manager Javier Aguirre has criticised Harvey Elliott's sending-off during Saturday's 2-1 La Liga defeat to Villarreal, calling the dismissal 'absurd' and 'ridiculous'. The Liverpool loanee was shown a second yellow card in the 89th minute, moments after coming on as a substitute, as Valencia slipped to a third straight league loss.
Late red card costs Valencia a point
Valencia had taken an early lead through Pepelu's first-half penalty before Alex Freeman equalised for Villarreal. Pape Gueye's dismissal appeared to hand the home side a numerical advantage, but Elliott's red card, for two quick bookings after entering the fray in the 69th minute, left both teams with 10 men.
Georges Mikautadze scored the decisive goal in the 96th minute to give Villarreal all three points at the Mestalla. Elliott, who has yet to register a goal or assist in six appearances this campaign, was initially booked for a foul before receiving a second yellow for dissent.
Aguirre takes responsibility
Speaking after the match, Aguirre made no attempt to hide his frustration. "It's an absurd, ridiculous sending-off," he said. "I don't know what he could have said to the referee, he barely speaks Spanish, so getting sent off for something he said just makes me angry. It's a ridiculous dismissal, and I told him as much."
"It's not his fault; the fault is mine, though I'll address it with him privately. Ultimately, the responsibility is mine, because I'm the one who decides who plays and how we play. We were in a solid position and it was 11 against 10, but the sending-off disrupted everything. We ended up playing an all-or-nothing, wide-open game."
Difficult season for Elliott and Valencia
Elliott has endured a torrid 2025/26 campaign, having spent time on the sidelines after leaving Liverpool for Aston Villa on loan. Villa chose not to field the 23-year-old midfielder to avoid triggering a £35million obligation to buy clause. He moved to Valencia this summer following conversations with Carlos Corberan, but the former West Brom boss was swiftly dismissed after a dreadful start to the season.
Valencia have claimed just six points from 10 matches and sit 19th in La Liga. Elliott has managed only 152 minutes of football, with Spanish media suggesting last month that he is carrying excess weight. The midfielder remains contracted to Liverpool until June 2028, having contributed 15 goals and 21 assists in 149 appearances, and is desperately seeking a return to form.
