Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernández, criticized the referee’s performance in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against Paris Saint-Germain (1-4), a tie that, in his opinion, changed from of the expulsion of Ronald Araujo in the 29th minute.
«We leave upset, angry because I think that the play marks the tie. When we played eleven against eleven, I think we were well placed defensively. There is another tie from that play. It was too much red whistle on that play. It is not good for football to stay with ten players and there is another game,” said Xavi in statements to Movistar Champions League.
The Barça coach, who ended up expelled for protesting, considered that it was “a shame that the work of an entire season is over” due to an arbitration decision.
«I like to play eleven against eleven every minute. We know that there are expulsions in football, but this is unnecessary,” added the Egarense coach, who after the match addressed the referee Istvan Kovacs to tell him that he was “very bad” and that his performance was “a disaster.”
After the expulsion, Xavi admitted that he doubted whether to change Pedro or Lamine Yamal, author of the assist for Raphinha’s first goal, but defended his decision to replace the youth player.
«We have hesitated because Pedri is also coming off an injury, but we wanted some control, with Raphinha, Lewandowski and Cancelo upside down, but we changed Lamine, who was fine. No matter how much we talk, the play marks the tie,” he concluded.
Already from the press room, the Barça coach maintained the same speech – “from calm and reflection,” he said -, remembering that in the first leg the referee did not show the second yellow to Vitinha when interpreting that he could not leave a team with one less player in a ‘Champions’ tie.
«Araujo moves away and Barcola drops. I would have liked to play eleven against eleven. In today’s football it has to be a very clear action for a team to be left with one less,” said Xavi.
And he added that the team “is not having luck” with refereeing since he landed on the Barça bench.
Beyond the expulsion, Xavi regretted specific errors in the play of the first goal and Cancelo’s penalty against Dembélé with which Mbappé unbalanced from eleven meters.
Despite the elimination, the Barça coach praised his players: “We are building something that can be beautiful and fruitful, we have competed well and we have had a very good Champions League, against great teams in Europe, I am very proud, with young people who will mature.” …Barça will return and return stronger.” EFE
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