Club Brugge manager, Nicky Hayen, absolved Raphael Onyedika of any blame following the midfielder’s red card in the UEFA Europa Conference League clash against Fiorentina.
The Belgian side succumbed to a 3-2 defeat in the first leg of the semi-final, with the Italian club taking advantage of their extra player.
Onyedika was cautioned for a mistimed challenge in the 58th minute, before receiving a second yellow card just three minutes later, resulting in his dismissal from the game.
As a result, the Nigerian player will be unavailable for the return leg at the Jay Breydelstadion.
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Hayen defended Onyedika, stating that the player was unaware of his first yellow card, as evidenced by his reaction on the field.
The manager emphasized that Onyedika’s intelligence was evident in his play, and the aggressive nature of the team was a testament to their desire not to concede easily.
Despite the unfortunate turn of events, Hayen stood by his player and acknowledged the team’s commitment to avoiding costly mistakes.
