Manuel Pellegrini declared that the referee played a decisive role in his team’s 2-0 defeat to FC Barcelona.
Martin Demichelis was sent-off and a penalty was given after 55 minutes for a foul which the 60-year old believes was outside of the area and should never have been allowed to happen because of a foul to Jesus Navas in the build-up.
The Chilean thinks that it was a bad idea to select a referee who had made an “important error" at Barcelona’s expense in their 2012 UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Milan.
Jonas Eriksson was openly criticised by then-Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola for failing to award his side two penalties in the first-leg's goalless draw at the San Siro.
“Well, I think the referee decided the game. Before the penalty, it was a foul on Navas – he was a few metres away, so he saw it and it should have been a free-kick," Pellegrini stated.
“I thought it was not a penalty – it was outside of the box. To play for 40 minutes without a player against Barcelona is very difficult.
“He refereed the game, Barcelona v Milan – he made an important error against Barcelona. Today, he rearranged."
Despite this disappointment at the official’s performance, Pellegrini revealed that he was proud of his team’s gutsy showing.
He was pleased that his team tried to overcome their one-man disadvantage to try and draw level in the tie.
“We played very well, we tried to draw level but then they scored the second goal in the last minute," Manuel said.
“Barcelona didn’t have any chances to score in the match until the penalty.
“It was important to continue playing the way we did and try to score. With one player less it was very difficult to score but we had two or three chances to do it.
“Silva forced a very good save from Valdes, Clichy had a good chance and the referee gave a foul when Dzeko had a clear chance.
“Barcelona had a lot of the ball but they had it where we wanted. They were not near our area, that’s what we wanted.
“Since the beginning, he [the referee] didn’t give a good impression – he was decisive in this game. Even so, the team played with courage, with personality and tried to draw the match with ten men."
Pellers says ref cost us
posted on 19/2/14
Not arguing about it Darren. I think the law says that where there's some doubt then it's up to the ref to decide - which is what he did. Same in the United game.
I think one of the most important things I was ever told about sport - although this related to squash - is that there are no laws, only refs. Once you accept that then there's nothing left to argue about, you just have to get on with it.
posted on 19/2/14
Fair play, mate. I wasn't sure if you were being sarcastic or not, hard to tell over text.
Agree with that, though. Won't stop us debating it, but as you say, we just have to get on with it.
posted on 19/2/14
Sorry, Darren. I don't think the pen made any difference really. If anything we played better once Demi went off and we brought Nasri on. To be honest I don't think we looked like scoring as long as we had Negredo on his own up front. There was one instance in the first half when he put the ball across Barca's goal and Kolorov arrived about 20 yards too late - another forward there would have had instinct to be up with Negredo's play.
Hey ho - hope we turn it around in Spain but it's going to be so difficult.
posted on 19/2/14
Yep I agree with that. Personally I thought Pel got it wrong by playing Toure so deep.
Negredo was always going to be isolated with that team. You needed Toure playing attacking midfield, in my opinion, as he would have been able to get up and down to support him - Silva is a fine player, and had a decent game, but I don't think it was the right game for him to be playing behind the striker.
I think that Alves game killed the tie. But you never know. Hopefully the next game is a better spectacle, I was expecting a lot more from both sides last night.
posted on 19/2/14
Agree about Toure. His talent was wasted last night.
But what really baffled me was the City players movement off the ball. No one seemed to be running into space and calling for the ball. They were standing round often watching a surrounded City player struggling to get the ball away and offering no assistance.
I agree about the second goal. One goal maybe, two goals almost impossible. City have to go for it over there - in essence play there as they should have played here. We looked like the away team last night hoping to score with a break away - weird.
posted on 19/2/14
Yeah I think that just shows how good Barca are really. They may not be the team they used to be, and don't attack with the same movement and fluidity that they used to, but they are still the best possession team around.
posted on 19/2/14
To be honest, Darren the best team to have visited City in my memory - been a supporter since 1953 - were Bayern Munich last year. They were awesome. Can't wait to watch them against Arsenal (is it on the box?). Nothing against Arsenal but just for the joy of watching such skill.
posted on 19/2/14
Yeah Bayern are a better side than Barca.
But I still think Barca are the best team in possession. It doesn't mean much, because they got slaughtered, but Barca still had more of the ball against Bayern when they played - which says a lot about how they make teams approach the game against them, and why teams like City can look like the away team while playing at home.
posted on 20/2/14
"Your lot were mouthing off in division 1, what's being 7th got to do with anything?"
What the heck has what happened in Div 1 got to do with naything? Typical rags it's all about what happened in yester-years in order to deflect from what is happening right now. 7th and dropping like a stone hopefully.
posted on 20/2/14
BluePhoenix (U1189)
I think the United fan was responding to the suggestion that United fans shouldn't be having a dig at City's bad result, because we're having a bad season.
If you're a City fan that had digs at United for bad results even when you were in a lower division, then presumably you wouldn't subscribe to that view, as it'd be a tad hypocritical.
Hope that clears things up