Chelsea’s heroic bid to stay in the Champions League was cruelly ended by Real Madrid last night at the Bernabeu and it was no laughing matter for coach Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea fans were furious after a goal by Marcos Alonso was disallowed for an inadvertent handball and also that a penalty appeal for a possible foul on Kai Havertz by Casemiro was ignored.
Tuchel, who saw his side narrowly fail to reverse their 3-1 deficit from the home leg at Stamford Bridge, despite leading 4-3 on aggregate at one point, was angered when, at the end of the game, he saw referee Szymon Marciniak, “laughing and smiling” with his opposite number Carlo Ancelotti.
“I’m disappointed that the referee had a good time with my colleague, Carlo Ancelotti,” said Tuchel.
“I know Carlo is a gentleman and a nice guy but when I wanted to go and say thank you I see him smiling and laughing loudly with the opponent coach.
“I think this is the very, very worst time to do this, after 126 minutes with one team giving their heart and desire, fighting to the very last drop.
“Afterwards you go as a coach and see the referee laughing and smiling with the other coach. I think it’s very, very bad timing.”
“If you play against Real Madrid you can maybe not expect everybody has the courage. I felt little decisions went against us also in the first-leg and today as well.
Chelsea had cause for annoyance when Alonso’s strike - which would have put them ahead on aggregate - was ruled out for what appeared to be a slight and unintentional handball.
Chelsea left back Ben Chilwell - who didn;t feature in the game - tweeted, “This hand ball rule…” highlighting the confusion over what constitutes handball and what doesn’t.
Coach Tuchel also criticised the lack of clarity of what counts as handball.
“I did not see the goal but I told him I’m super disappointed he didn’t go to check it himself.
“You should stay the boss and not give decisions like this to somebody in a chair and isolated from the atmosphere (the VAR).
“A referee has a certain style, things he allows and doesn’t allow, so I think he should stay in charge and check it on his own, then he could explain it better.
“But this is just my opinion. Maybe it’s too much to ask for in matches like this against this opponent.
“We had it in our hands and we were not lucky enough, it’s like this.”
