Kompany and Toure Criticise Referee after Barcelona Defeat
Vincent Kompany has said that Manchester City’s loss on Wednesday night to Barcelona in the Champions League second leg was partly the referee’s fault as a “clear penalty” was earned but not given in the second half.
City were not awarded a penalty after striker Edin Dzeko was downed in the box, and Pablo Zabaletta’s red card for protesting over the decision all-but ending the Premier League’s hopes of a comeback in the tie.
“For me it was a clear penalty,” Kompany said. “[Dzeko] was in a position to shoot and his trigger foot is caught and it takes the chance away, but you never know if it would have been enough to qualify.”
Yaya Toure also criticised the referee while admitting the tie was likely out of reach.
“We learned we have to get a good referee,” Toure said. “I think if we had a good referee in both games, defensively we were fine. But I think to be honest with you we lost the tie in the first leg.”
Kompany suggested it is ‘a matter of time’ before his club start to challenge the Champions League elite, as he took heart from his side’s display in defeat at the Nou Camp.
Kompany was City’s shining star on Wednesday in their 2-1 defeat, with the 4-1 aggregate scoreline ending the Manchester club’s hopes of making a breakthrough in the Champions League for another season.
Yet Kompany was keen to suggest City will eventually climb their European mountain, as he suggested their improved display four days after a disappointing defeat against Wigan in the FA Cup had to be seen in a positive light.
“I don’t see why next year we should fear anyone,” Kompany said. “The way we played against Wigan and this was completely different performance.
“Only the winners get remembered, but this is only the third year ever for Manchester City in the Champions League. It is a matter of time. Every team gets its moment.
“This [performance] should give us motivation and I can speak for the team to say we have nothing left in the tank, we gave everything. A few times we could have scored and it would have changed everything, but to go down to ten men for a second time after it was a clear penalty, it is not easy conditions to play against a strong team.
“Over the course of the two games with eleven players, there wasn’t much between the two sides. Messi is an incredible player and whenever he is on the ball, danger can happen. Outside of that, we had a few chances and if we score, you are looking at a different game.”
