Real Madrid News
Mauricio Pochettino blames VAR for Champions League elimination vs Real Madrid
Real Madrid pulled off the unthinkable as they pulled off their two-goal deficit and powered their way through to the quarter-finals with a 3-2 aggregate win over Paris Saint-Germain.
Coming into this game on the back of a 1-0 lead, PSG looked imperious in the first half, after initially enduring a dodgy start to the proceedings. They put pressure on the Real Madrid backline, asking questions in the final third.
The pressure was rewarded when Kylian Mbappe capitalised on a quick counter-attack to make it 1-0, thus extending PSG’s overall lead to two goals heading into half-time.
However, a second-half masterclass from the Real Madrid team saw the hosts make an extraordinary comeback, with Karim Benzema grabbing a hat-trick to put Los Blancos in the ascendancy.
Speaking to the media after the game, PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino questioned the role of VAR, blaming the technology for his side’s shocking defeat.
“Real Madrid’s first goal changed the match. I wonder what the VAR is doing because for me there is something else. It’s a shame, when you see the action, there’s a fault,” said Pochettino (h/t Madrix Xtra), referring to the incident prior to the first goal that saw Benzema closing down Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The PSG goalkeeper was dwelling on the ball for too long, causing him to concede a dangerous turnover inside the box. Vinicius Junior grabbed the opportunity with both hands, putting it on the plate of Benzema for the equaliser.
The PSG players were seen complaining to the ref, with Donnarumma even getting a yellow card. But the referee nor the VAR opted to overturn the decision, which seemed like the right call at the end.
The shocking elimination from the Champions League could be consequential for Pochettino, who has faced fierce criticism for his mismanagement of players at PSG. It appears the Argentine could on his way out of Parc des Princes in the summer, amid interest from Manchester United, as per ESPN.
Real Madrid prospect Alexis Ciria will have to wait for his Champions League opportunity despite making a strong impression on Jose Mourinho during pre-season.
The Castilla winger has been left out of Real Madrid’s European squad, but the decision is the consequence of UEFA registration rules rather than a sporting judgment.
According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez (h/t Defensa Central), Ciria was not eligible for Madrid’s List B because he has not been with the club long enough to satisfy UEFA’s requirements.
Registering him would therefore have required Mourinho to include him on the more restrictive List A.
UEFA rules work against Ciria
List B provides clubs with additional flexibility to register young academy players, but being young enough is not sufficient on its own.
Players must also meet requirements concerning how long they have been eligible to represent the club.
Ciria does not meet those conditions because of his limited time at Valdebebas. Real Madrid would therefore have needed to sacrifice a List A position to register him.
With those places required for members of Mourinho’s senior squad, Ciria was ultimately left out.
Real Madrid’s List B instead includes youngsters such as Joan Martinez, Mario Rivas, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero and Daniel Yanez.
Many of these youngsters made a name for themselves under Mourinho during pre-season and could be used to make up the numbers in the Champions League squad.
They could also get some minutes off the bench, especially against relatively easier opposition, as Jose Mourinho looks to manage first-team minutes.
Mourinho still plans first-team opportunity
Importantly for Ciria, missing the Champions League squad does not appear to reflect a change in Mourinho’s opinion of him.
The youngster impressed during pre-season and is expected to continue spending time around the senior team.
Mourinho intends to give Ciria his official first-team debut during the season. That opportunity will now have to arrive in La Liga or the Copa del Rey.
The Portuguese tactician placed a lot of emphasis on trusting Castilla players during pre-season in the absence of first-team stars.
Ciria was one of the many names who made a name for themselves at Real Madrid during pre-season. He deserves a chance in the first team, and it remains to be seen how Jose plans his development.
