Borussia Dortmund Coach Jurgen Klopp believes Xabi Alonso should have been sent off during his side’s 3-2 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid.
Dortmund won 2-0 on Tuesday night but couldn’t overturn Madrid’s 3-0 lead from the first-leg as Los Blancos edged into the semi-final.
AS reports that at his post-match Press conference, Klopp praised the efforts of his team and insisted Madrid should have played most of the second-half with 10 men.
“I’m very proud of the image we shown of ourselves,” Klopp said.
“I’ve seen the replays, or some of them. I didn’t see the penalty [awarded to Madrid and missed by Angel Di Maria] because I knew it wasn’t a penalty.
“Then I saw a tactical foul from Alonso, who should have been given a second yellow card. It was a second yellow. It would have been the right thing to do after 52 minutes.
“Given that we were fighting it would have been a very difficult end to the game for Madrid.
“But that’s it. I’ve learned many things, among them whatever I say won’t change the situation.”
Klopp was asked how much of an impact the performance of Iker Casillas had on the trajectory of the match and the German conceded the goalkeeper was pivotal.
He also added, however, that it’s possible the poor finishing of Dortmund was just as important.
“I remember how he was decisive in the first-leg,” Klopp continued.
“I don’t know if he was or we were [in this match] but he did stop some good shots.
“Of course, he’s a world class goalkeeper. But look, I have more important problems than Casillas.”
Klopp went on to say that he was pleased to have pushed Madrid harder than Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been pushed in the tournament so far.
“Here are the matches. This is how things are in the top competition. Madrid went through to the semi-finals because they were much better overall. [On Tuesday] we were better but only won 2-0,” Klopp argued.
“Why didn’t we go through? We can say our game made Madrid resort to means not normally used.
“But everything is in order. It’s all sorted. You have to be at your best. I say it sportingly.”
