‘He’s a good guy’ – Ferencvaros coach Balazs Borbely stands by Bamidele Yusuf after AC Milan red card

Ferencváros manager Balázs Borbély has come to the defence of Nigerian forward Bamidele Yusuf following his sending-off in the Hungarian side’s impressive 2-0 victory over AC Milan at the San Siro on Thursday evening.

Yusuf was dismissed in the closing stages of the UEFA Europa League encounter after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review ruled his challenge worthy of a red card, leaving Ferencváros to negotiate the final 13 minutes with 10 men.

Despite the incident, Borbély refused to criticise the Nigerian, insisting that the forward had no intention of putting his team at a disadvantage.

The Hungarian manager instead expressed sympathy for the player, describing him as a good person while acknowledging the circumstances surrounding his dismissal.

“He’s a good guy who certainly didn’t want to weaken his team,” Borbély was quoted as saying by Eurosport.

The dismissal came during an impressive European night for Ferencváros, who secured a memorable victory away from home against the Italian giants.

Borbély praises Ferencváros’ defensive resilience

While Yusuf’s red card threatened to complicate their closing stages, Ferencváros demonstrated considerable defensive discipline to preserve their two-goal advantage at the San Siro.

Borbély was particularly pleased with how his players responded to the numerical disadvantage, highlighting their collective commitment and willingness to work for one another.

The manager also pointed out that his team did not simply retreat into its defensive shape after losing Yusuf, continuing to create opportunities despite having fewer players on the pitch.

Ferencváros managed to fashion two clear chances during the final 15 minutes, underlining their ability to remain an attacking threat even under pressure.

“The last quarter of an hour went as it should have, even in these 15 minutes we were able to create two clear chances,” Borbély said.

His comments reflected his satisfaction with the team’s overall performance, particularly its ability to maintain composure and protect the result against a Milan side playing at home.

Yusuf’s absence a blow ahead of Celje encounter

Yusuf’s dismissal could prove costly for Ferencváros as they prepare for their next Europa League assignment against Celje at the Groupama Arena in Budapest on November 26.

The Nigerian has become an important attacking option for the Hungarian outfit since joining in the summer of 2025, making a notable contribution to their European campaign.

He has registered two goals and two assists in four Europa League appearances, establishing himself as an influential figure in the team’s forward line.

His likely absence against Celje will therefore present Borbély with an additional selection challenge as Ferencváros look to maintain their momentum in the competition.

Nevertheless, the manager’s public defence of the forward after the Milan encounter suggests he is unwilling to allow the dismissal to overshadow the player’s contributions to the team’s campaign.