Thomas Tuchel manager of Bayern Munich has stated that he feels “like a betrayal” as the referee’s decision to stop the play before his team scored an injury-time equaliser against Real Madrid. Going to the semi-final Real Madrid was hosting Bayern Munich in the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu. In the first leg, both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid had levelled the score by 2-2.
In the second leg German giants Bayern Munich were leading by 1-0 until 88th as Real Madrid made a substitution as Joselu came in and scored a brace in three minutes. In the 13th minute of stoppage time when Matthijs de Ligt got a chance to equalise the referee raised the offside flag. However, Real Madrid came to stop Matthijs de Ligt before he went to score and when the show's replay on TV, it revealed that the original ruling may not have been offside and required VAR.
According to India Today, Thomas Tuchel stated that, "I think it's pretty clear and there is no doubt that is against the rules of modern football," "A disaster. An absolute disaster. With Real's second goal, they let the play continue. The clear rule is that the scene must continue. The first mistake was made by the linesman, the second by the referee," he said. Bayern seized the lead with Alphonso Davies' shot midway through the second half, but Real rallied with two late goals from Joselu to secure the final berth. De Ligt claimed the linesman apologised to him after the game.
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🚨 Thomas Tuchel on referee’s mistake: “This would not have happened on Real Madrid side”. pic.twitter.com/SF0rAWPPYh
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 9, 2024
'The apology does not help,' says Thomas Tuchel
"Very difficult. Of course, as sportspeople we accept it," said Tuchel. "But it is a semi-final, it's not for two such violations of the rule. Everyone has to be at their limit. The referees have to be there as well. That is what we expect. So, the apology does not really help." Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer spilt the ball into Joselu's path for the equaliser in the 88th minute, but Tuchel refused to criticise his keeper, who had been superb up to that moment.
On the other hand, Real Madrid is going to play their sixth UEFA Champions League in ten years of time and aims to win their 15th UCL trophy while Borussia Dortmund will be playing after 11 years in the UCL final. The UEFA Champions League final will played on 1st June at Wembley Stadium, England.