“Absolute disaster”: Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel criticized late offside call

Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel criticized a late offside call, describing the decision as an “absolute disaster” as Real Madrid defeated his side in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday. With Real leading 2–1 with two late goals, Joshua Kimmich threaded a long pass which Thomas Mueller headed centrally for defender Matthijs de Ligt to score in the 12th minute of stoppage time. . Real, who had drawn the Munich match 2-2, advanced 4-3 on aggregate.

The goal did not stand after the linesman raised his flag before the ball went into the net, so a VAR review was ruled out.

An animated Tuchel ran to the sidelines after the decision. After the match, he told broadcaster DAZN that the decision was “a disaster, an absolute disaster”.

“We have to let the action go until the end. That’s the rule, especially since it’s so close to the goal, and it’s very limited.

“The first mistake is by the linesman, the second is by the referee,” Tuchel said.

The 50-year-old coach told broadcaster TNT that the decision “felt like a betrayal”.

Speaking at the press conference, Tuchel said the referee had apologised, but added: “Apologies don’t help.

“Everyone has to go to their limits, everyone has to suffer, everyone has to play without making mistakes. So the referees also have to be at that level.

“Making excuses after the fact doesn’t help.

“You’re on the field because you’re the best there is. And we have the right to expect that to the end.”

Goalscorer De Ligt agreed with his coach, calling the decision decisive in the match.

“The scene at the end, I find it incredible. I can’t understand why he (the referee) doesn’t let the action happen.

“He apologized. I wouldn’t want to say that Real are always lucky, but that decision made a difference today,” De Ligt told DAZN.

Frustrated Bayern captain Manuel Neuer said: “We’re in the Champions League semi-finals… I think he knows it was a mistake and you shouldn’t make a decision like that so quickly.”

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)