I TOLD REFEREE HE WAS A DISASTER: XAVI FURIOUS AFTER BARCELONA'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez did not hold back his frustration as he revealed he told referee Istvan Kovacs that he was a disaster after a contentious red card in their 4-1 defeat to PSG in the Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg. Xavi said that an entire season's hard work went down the drain because of "one refereeing decision" after a 10-man Barcelona side went down 4-1 in the second leg at the Estadi OlÃmpic in Barcelona after having won the first leg 3-2.Â
The match began with promise for Barcelona as they carried a slender lead from the first leg, bolstered further when Raphinha found the net early on, setting the stage for what looked like a good show in front of their home fans. However, the game took a pivotal turn just before the half-hour mark when Ronald Araujo was shown a straight red card for pulling down Bradley Barcola, who was through on goal. This decision by the referee not only reduced Barcelona to 10 men but also shifted the momentum of the game entirely in PSG's favour.
"The red card marked the tie. We were well organised 11 vs. 11. It completely changed everything. For me, it's too much to send Araujo off. The referee was really bad. I told him, he was a disaster. He killed the tie. I don't like speaking about referees but it has to be said. I don't understand it," Xavi said after Barcelona's Champions League exit.Â
"It's not good going down to 10 players and from that point on it's another game," he added.Â
IT JUST A SHAME: XAVI
PSG were able to make an immediate impact as former Barcelona man, Ousmane Dembele, scored a stunning volley to go level the second leg 1-1 in the first half.Â
PSG talisman Kylian Mbappe seized the opportunity to shine, scoring twice in the second half and playing a crucial role in his team's comeback victory. His performance, alongside goals from Dembele and Vitinha, helped PSG overturn the deficit and secure their place in the semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund.
 Xavi's heated exchanges with the referee, Istvan Kovacs, culminated in him receiving a red card as well in the second-half.Â
"It's just a shame that the hard work of an entire season ends because of one refereeing decision. I would have liked it to be 11 vs. 11 for the whole game. It's an unnecessary red," Xavi said.Â
Despite being down to 10 men, Barcelona showed resilience, creating chances to level the aggregate score. However, PSG's quality and numerical advantage eventually told, with Mbappé's late goal sealing the win. The aftermath of the match was filled with discussions about the referee's decisions, the red cards, and what could have been for Barcelona.
2024-04-17T08:35:15Z dg43tfdfdgfd