Thomas Tuchel stood with a composed demeanor, but the frustration was palpable when discussing the refereeing that led to FC Bayern's Champions League dreams being dashed in the final moments against Real Madrid. The controversial decision by referee Szymon Marciniak to blow the whistle for an offside in the dying seconds of the match prevented a potential equalizing goal by Bayern's Matthijs de Ligt, leaving the score at 2-1 in favor of Madrid.
The Turning Point
The incident occurred deep into the 15 minutes of added time, with Bayern mounting pressure in search of the crucial goal that would send them to the finals in Wembley. Tuchel's outrage was evident as he criticized the premature call, "This is an absolute disaster of a decision," he expressed post-match, emphasizing the importance of allowing the play to finish, especially in such a tight and critical moment.
Player and Expert Reactions
De Ligt shared his disbelief, stating that the play should have continued, while Marciniak reportedly apologized for the error. Bayen's sports director Max Eberl called the decision "curious and dubious," and even DAZN expert Michael Ballack labeled it a "huge mistake by the referee." Captain Manuel Neuer, despite his own critical error that paved the way for Real's comeback, also acknowledged the referee's mistake but didn't shy away from self-critique.
A Season Without Silverware
The loss in Madrid seals a season for FC Bayern that ends without a title for the first time since 2012. Tuchel lamented the final blow, "Nothing I say can alleviate this," while Neuer described the team's exit from the competition as "extremely bitter." They were moments away from stepping onto the pitch at Wembley, but now they must grapple with the harsh reality of what could have been.
Editor: Yana Davydiuk
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