Thomas Tuchel has expressed disappointment in Marciniak for laughing and smiling with Carlo Ancelotti after the game.
He claimed the referee lacked the “courage” to make important decisions against Real Madrid.
Chelsea boss Tuchel even admitted he could expect repercussions for criticizing Polish referee Szymon Marciniak in the wake of the Blues’ 5-4 Champions League quarter-final exit.
The Blues were on the brink of pulling one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history until Luka Modric’s delicious pass found Rodrygo in the 80th minute to push the game to extra time. Karim Benzema put the icing on the cake in the 96th minute when he headed home Vini Jnr’s cross.
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What did Tuchel say?
“I’m disappointed that the referee had a good time with my colleague, Carlo Ancelotti,”
“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.”
Asked if he was frustrated with the VAR decision to rule out Alonso’s goal for handball, He continued: “Not only today, it been like this for some time, and now maybe I get problems.
“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.
“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.”
???? "You go as a coach and see the referee smiling and laughing with the other coach, I think it's very very bad timing"
Tuchel disappointed by referee after Chelsea's defeat to Real Madrid ????pic.twitter.com/ZzualuVqt2
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 13, 2022
Thomas Tuchel also admitted that he is disappointed and proud of his team as they were not lucky enough.
We are very disappointed and very proud at the same time,”
“We played a fantastic match, we deserved what we had, four goals and we had big chances to score even more.
“We were unlucky and that’s why we’re disappointed.
“We were beaten by the pure individual quality and two mistakes after ball wins, which are the most crucial moments against Real Madrid.
“In the end we were unlucky, we deserved to go through after this performance today but it was not meant to be. Luck was not on our side and you always need luck.”
"We are very disappointed and very proud at the same time"
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel reflects on his side's heartbreaking Champions League defeat to Real Madrid ???? pic.twitter.com/qUpJ2x4mK0
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 12, 2022
Carlo Ancelotti also praised his team for not giving up and fighting hard to overturn the result.
“At some points, I think we weren’t hungry enough, but our game, especially in the first half, was good,” said Ancelotti.
“And then, after the second goal, we started to fight, because my team had a little psychological decline.
“But this stadium is truly magical and our fans help our players, the whole team never gives up.
“I am very, very happy to have reached the semi-finals thanks to this team, a team that is capable of suffering.
“But the more we suffer on the pitch, the happier I am afterward.
“I think Chelsea used up a lot of their stamina and that gave us an advantage in extra time because my players weren’t as tired as our opponents.”
