Atlanta United's Hector Villalba said a lack of respect shown by Red Bulls' Kemar Lawrence and a hard tackle contributed to the post-game confrontation at the end of the Sunday's, 1-0, loss.
“A normal 50-50 ball” Villalba said. I don’t think he’s going with the best intention, the number 3. I get mad. I get mad because in no moment did I show any disrespect. So I don’t know why he does that.”
Lemar said he showed no disrespect, according to journalist Franco Panizo.
“I said, ‘Come on, bring your best,’ ” Lawrence said. “ ‘I see you bring your best against every guy week in, week out. I want your best,’ that’s what I said. If he feels that’s disrespectful, that’s his fault.”
As he walked off the field, Villalba mimed holding up the MLS Cup as a gesture to remind the Red Bulls supporters of his team’s victory in last year’s Eastern Conference finals.
“We came last year, won here, and no one showed any disrespect to anybody,” Villalba said. “And I think we expect the same from the other team. That’s how they are. When they win everything’s good and they don’t show respect, and when they lose nobody says anything and they leave.”
Villalba said Lawrence said a lot of things to him during the game. He said previous manager Gerardo Martino said, “We come, win and leave.”
“I don’t know why they take it that way,” Villalba said. “We just come here and leave. I’m sure it has something to do with them losing in the playoffs. It’s tough when someone beats you on your field.”
Lawrence, who missed last year’s playoff loss, said his absence weighed on him.
“The only thing on my mind was to repay them for how my team felt last year,” Lawrence said. “I felt like we did that tonight.”
Technically, Atlanta United hasn’t defeated Red Bulls during the MLS regular season, either at Red Bull Arena, Bobby Dodd Stadium or Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Five Stripes are 0-4-1 against the Red Bulls in the regular season, but 1-0-1 in the playoffs.
Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer said he didn’t see what started the melee at the end of the game. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan said he didn’t know what happened, either.
“Those things are nothing,” Guzan said. “It’s people jawing at each other.”
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