Thomas Tuchel reveals apology from linesman after 'disastrous' decision in Bayern Munich defeat to Real Madrid

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·8 May 2024

Thomas Tuchel reveals apology from linesman after 'disastrous' decision in Bayern Munich defeat to Real Madrid

Thomas Tuchel angrily confronted the linesman

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Thomas Tuchel furiously hit out at a “disastrous” offside decision as Bayern Munich were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid.

The Bundesliga side had been minutes away from victory at the Bernabeu and an all-German final with Borussia Dortmund, but Joselu first cancelled out Alphonso Davies’ brilliant strike and then scored again in stoppage-time to turn the tie on its head, earning Real a 4-3 aggregate win.

After a painful domestic season, it means Bayern will finish the trophyless season, and Tuchel will not get the chance to lift the Champions League trophy in his final match in charge of the club.

The Bayern boss was instead left to fume at the officials, who he felt cost Bayern at the Bernabeu. After Joselu had edged Bayern in front, there were still more than ten minutes of stoppage-time played, though the visitors were depleted in attack with Harry Kane, Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala all brought off.

Matthijs de Ligt was very nearly the hero in their absence, firing the ball into the net in the 103rd-minute, but the whistle had already gone after the linesman raised his flag for offside in the build-up. Replays showed it was very tight, with Antonio Rudiger potentially playing the Bayern players onside, but VAR could not intervene as the whistle was blown.

“A disastrous decision from the linesman and from the referee,” Tuchel told TNT Sports when discussing the incident.

“It feels almost like a betrayal in the end because of that decision. It was a huge fight, we left everything on the pitch. We were almost there.”

Asked whether he had spoken to the officials, Tuchel added: “The linesman said sorry but that does not help.

“At that kind of level, to raise the flag in a decision like this in the last minute... and the referee as well. He does not have to whistle. He sees that we win the second ball, he sees that we get a shot away. To whistle is a very, very bad decision. It’s against the rules and it’s a bad decision from both of them. It’s a disaster.”