Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel has described his side’s extraordinary Champions League exit to Manchester United as ‘a totally ridiculous result’. Leading 2-0 from the first leg, PSG ended up going out of the competition on away goals after losing 3-1 on the night, with Marcus Rashford scoring the decisive goal for United following a controversial decision.
Tuchel lamented the fact that his side gave ‘two gifts’ to United in the first half, with Romelu Lukaku scoring a brace. Tuchel told RMC Sport: ‘It’s easy to explain: we made two gifts in the first half. We totally controlled the game in the first 30 minutes. We played with a lot of quality, a good mentality, a good reaction after this first gift to Manchester. We had a lot of opportunities. And there, without opportunity, without anything, there is this second goal of Manchester. And there, it’s as if everyone said to themselves: “They have two goals while they do not attack.” We controlled the game, it was a totally ridiculous result.’
He said: ‘I never felt that Manchester United was coming to win. But hey, they did it so congratulations for that.’ Regarding the penalty, which was awarded after referee Damir Skomina consulted VAR, Tuchel argued that the shot from Diogo Dalot which struck Presnel Kimpembe’s arm wasn’t on target.
Tuchel said: ‘Yes, clearly, I’m for the VAR. But I feel that the shot is not (on target) and if you make a shot that is not (on target) it does not make sense to get a penalty. I did not see and I think that with the rule of the hand, it is necessary to explain. He can explain the penalty because the rule is not clear.’
As was the case last season, when they were knocked out by Real Madrid, PSG have been eliminated from the Champions League at the last-16 stage again. Tuchel’s side are set to win the Ligue 1 title and could also prevail in the Coupe de France, but they will be especially frustrated to have not progressed further in the Champions League.