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Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has expressed his fury at Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg’s failure to award a penalty for a “kid’s mistake” during Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg clash at Arsenal.
The Bundesliga giants earned a 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium as Bukayo Saka put the home side in front on 12 minutes before Serge Gnabry‘s 18th-minute strike and a Harry Kane spot-kick put Bayern ahead at the break.
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Substitute Leandro Trossard drew Arsenal level 14 minutes from time and Saka felt he should have had a penalty in stoppage-time when going down under a challenge from Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
But Tuchel focused on a 66th-minute decision — with the score at 2-1 to Bayern — when David Raya played a goal kick short to Gabriel and the Arsenal defender picked the ball up with his hands before attempting to restart play even though the ball was live.
Bayern protested but nothing was given.
“For me, for all of us, he made a huge mistake not giving the handball penalty,” said Tuchel afterwards.
“I know it is a crazy situation but they put the ball down, he whistles, he gives the ball and the defender takes the ball in his hand.
“What makes us really angry is the explanation on the field. He told our players that it is a ‘kid’s mistake’ and he will not give a penalty like this in a quarterfinal. This is a horrible, horrible explanation. He is judging handballs. Kid’s mistake, adult’s mistake. Whatever. We feel angry because it is a huge decision against us.”
Arteta refused to be drawn on either the challenge on Saka — which left the winger furious at full-time — or Kane’s 55th-minute collision with William Saliba, where the England captain was booked for a stray elbow.
“I haven’t seen it,” he said. “The decision is made. We cannot change that. We have to focus on other aspects that we can control. We could have done much better tonight.
“Against these kind of players, this opposition, especially when they have space you know they can punish. We have let them run in a few occasions. That’s something in the return leg that we have to do much better.
“The margins are very small in this competition. It’s very difficult to penetrate the opponents and generate chances against this level of opposition.
“You have to make sure as well that you don’t give anything. I think the team showed a lot of composure especially after 2-1. You can throw your toys away and generate a lot of spaces for the opponent and lose the tie in 20 minutes. We haven’t done that.”
The return leg takes place in Munich next Wednesday.