Fuss over offside whistle

Thomas Tuchel in tears: “This is a disaster”

Thomas Tuchel's disappointment was written all over his face.

(Bild: AFP/APA/JAVIER SORIANO)

FC Bayern had to bow out of the Champions League in dramatic fashion, losing 2-1 in the semi-final second leg against Real Madrid after leading 1-0. Thomas Tuchel's disappointment at missing out on a place in the final was written all over his face, with the controversial offside decision in stoppage time causing particular frustration for the Munich coach.

In the 103rd minute, Bayern had had another chance to save themselves in extra time: Noussair Mazraoui gets to the ball in the opposition penalty area and it ends up in Mathijs de Ligt's hands, who puts it in the Madrid goal.

But the goal does not count, referee Szymon Marciniak had already blown the whistle, claiming to have seen Mazraoui offside. "That's a disaster! Toni's leg is probably lower than Mazraoui's. It's an absolute disaster," an agitated Tuchel made clear in the DAZN interview after the final whistle. "The situation has to be played out. That's the rule! Especially when it's so close to the goal. Especially when it's so close. The first mistake is made by the assistant, the second by the referee. He doesn't have to whistle, he can wait and see."

Although the referee has apologized to De Ligt, that won't get FC Bayern to Wembley. Tuchel, on the other hand, cannot blame his players, although he knows: "They are naturally very disappointed. We all thought we were through. It was a great fight. Now, of course, everyone is super disappointed. Nothing I can say now can alleviate that. We told them that we left everything on the pitch. There are no accusations. Everyone is suitably angry about the second decision because it probably would have counted as a goal."

Tuchel is therefore leaving Bayern after a title-less season. At least the fans of the German record champions backed the 50-year-old, paying homage to him in the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu with shouts of "Tuchel".