Andriy Lunin, goalkeeper for Real Madrid, has clarified comments made after the club’s narrow 3-2 victory over Leganés at the Santiago Bernabéu, which sparked controversy when he said the team should win "without help." Some interpreted the phrase as a veiled reference to alleged refereeing favoritism.

What Did Lunin Actually Say?

Following the match, and amid criticism of referee González Fuertes from the Leganés side, Lunin was asked about the officiating. He responded:

"I don't want to talk about the referee's decisions. We have to win these games without help. I mean we have to solve matches by playing well, staying organized, and trying not to concede."

However, the phrase “without help” was quickly taken out of context by fans and some media outlets, who saw it as an admission that Real Madrid benefits from referees. The reaction on social media was immediate.

Lunin Responds on Instagram

To address the misunderstanding, Lunin took to Instagram Stories later that evening to clarify his intentions:

"Trying to take advantage of my lack of fluency in Spanish doesn’t seem right. But I’ll keep trying to improve. Great win yesterday. Hala Madrid."

With this message, Lunin made it clear that he did not intend to question the legitimacy of Real Madrid’s victories. His original point was that the team should win based on performance, not external factors.

Stepping Up in Courtois' Absence

Lunin made his 11th appearance of the season—and fifth in LaLiga EA Sports—as Thibaut Courtois continues to recover from a muscle injury. Despite conceding two goals, the Ukrainian goalkeeper remained composed and is expected to start again on Tuesday against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey semifinal second leg, with Madrid holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg.