PSG Knocked Out By Real Madrid From Champions League, Mauricio Pocchetino: What Did VAR Do?

Real Madrid knocked PSG out of the Champions League. (Doc. PSG official website)

JAKARTA - The steps of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League were stopped in the round of 16. Neymar and his friends were eliminated by Real Madrid with an aggregate of 2-3.

PSG were kicked out after losing 1-3 to Madrid in the second leg which took place at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Thursday, March 10, early morning WIB.

After the match, PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino criticized the video assistant referee or VAR technology. According to him, this technology did not work properly when Madrid's first goal was created.

At that time, PSG goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, appeared to have been violated by Karim Benzema before finally conceding.

"Unfortunately, there was a foul on Donnarumma for the first goal. It is impossible not to talk about this big mistake. There is no way this will happen in 2022," Pochettino told Canal+, as quoted by Antara.

"I can't believe it. I think everything is changing in the stadium. The players are upset about this situation, and football is about emotions."

"Real Madrid's first goal changed the game. I want to know what VAR did because there was a foul. It's a shame," he added.

The Argentine coach said, after Benzema's goal everything changed. He considered, his team had dominated for 60 minutes and the situation changed instantly.

Pochettino admits, after Benzema's goal, his team was hit by nerves and also emotions because they felt they were being treated unfairly.

"Small details change this game. We felt the impact of the equaliser," said Pochettino.

The former Tottenham Hotspur manager said the PSG players were very disappointed with this result. Understandably, they have long dreamed of bringing the trophy to Paris.

"It will be difficult to change this state of mind. I think at a time like this, we have to remember the good things. We can lose to Real Madrid, which is one of the best clubs in the world, but not in this way," he concluded.