The aftermath of Barcelona’s Champions League elimination by Atletico Madrid is escalating, with heightened emotions in the mixed zone post-match.
Although Barcelona delivered a commendable performance, it was insufficient to overturn the aggregate disadvantage, leading to visible frustration among players, particularly regarding officiating decisions.
Among the most vocal was Raphinha, who was sidelined due to injury but traveled with the team to show his support.
Viewing from the sidelines did little to calm his emotions, and he expressed his discontent candidly when speaking to the press after the match.
With evident frustration, Raphinha boldly declared, “It’s a stolen match,” emphasizing that while human errors can occur, the repeat occurrences in the second leg were disappointing. “We played very well, but this tie has been stolen from us.”
Reactions from Raphinha and Gavi
Raphinha elaborated, pointing out systemic issues with officiating, claiming crucial calls consistently went against Barcelona.
He criticized the match official, stating, “The refereeing was fraught with issues; some decisions he made were unbelievable.
Barcelona players expressed their discontent with the officiating. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“Atletico committed so many fouls and the referee didn’t show them a single yellow card,” Raphinha noted. “I truly want to understand his reluctance to issue cards considering how Barça might have advanced.”
While Raphinha’s comments were blunt, Gavi offered a more balanced take, focusing on the football side of the situation.
The young midfielder recognized Barcelona’s overall superiority in the tie but admitted that their inability to convert chances ultimately hindered their advancement.
Gavi reflected, “We were the superior side in the tie, but in the end, we needed to score, and we didn’t.”
He also addressed a pivotal moment—the red card issued to Eric Garcia—without completely criticizing the referee. On this incident, he shared, “I’m not sure if Eric deserved the red card. Jules was there to cover. In the end, he made his choice, and that’s final,” he concluded.
Source: Mundo Deportivo