Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel expressed strong criticism towards a late offside call that resulted in Real Madrid eliminating his team in the Champions League semi-finals. The crucial decision came as Real Madrid scored two late goals to turn the tie around and advance with a 4-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich. The controversial moment occurred when a potential goal by Matthijs de Ligt was disallowed due to an offside flag from the linesman, which prevented a VAR review.
Tuchel’s frustration was evident as he passionately reacted on the sidelines, later describing the decision as an “absolute disaster” in post-match interviews. He emphasized the importance of letting the action play out until the end, especially in such critical moments of the game. Tuchel highlighted the errors made by both the linesman and the referee, describing the situation as feeling like a betrayal.
Despite receiving an apology from the referee, Tuchel emphasized that apologies are not sufficient in such high-stakes matches. Both the coach and goalscorer De Ligt agreed that the controversial decision had a decisive impact on the outcome of the match. De Ligt expressed disbelief at the referee’s quick whistle, suggesting that such decisions could change the course of a game, leaving Bayern Munich feeling hard done by.
Bayern’s captain echoed the sentiments of his coach and teammate, emphasizing the disappointment felt by the team over the officiating controversy. The prevailing sentiment among the Bayern camp was one of frustration and a belief that the referee’s decision played a significant role in their elimination from the Champions League.
The aftermath of this match leaves Bayern Munich reflecting on what could have been if not for the contentious offside call, while Real Madrid celebrate their advancement to the Champions League final amid the controversy surrounding the late decision.
