As first relayed by Jordi Costa and against confirmed by the Guardian’s Sid Lowe, Alba was passing by the journalists in attendance in the mixed zone and without stopping, said to Matallanas, “Next time, I’ll rip your head off,” and repeated himself following Matallanas’ reaction, “Yes, yes, next time … I’m warning you.
Matallanas told the other stunned reporters that he had no idea why Alba would signal him out especially, considering he hasn’t written about the former Valencia defender, but Alba continued to berate him, saying he was “being a grass” on the flight back to Spain (which the players and journalists share).
Matallanas confirmed to Spanish radio station, Onda Cero, per Lowe, that he still has no idea what he did to set Alba off.
“I have no idea why. I have not written anything about him. I don’t remember writing anything about him at all.”
Alba, has yet to comment on the issue or what offense Matallanas committed.
