Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez did all but laugh off Carlo Ancelotti’s statements about Real Madrid’s disallowed goan in El Clasico.
With just five minutes remaining, it looked as if Marco Asensio had won it for Real Madrid, after converting Dani Carvajal’s cross. However on VAR review, it was determined that Spanish international was inches offside.
After the match, Ancelotti claimed that he was not sure whether it was offside, saying that they ‘return to Madrid with a doubt’.
Speaking to Relevo after the match, Xavi met the idea with a perplexed look when he was told about Ancelotti’s words.
“Doubts about the offside? Man, it’s clear. It’s offside or it’s not.”
“I am surprised that Ancelotti has doubts about the disallowed goal, because it is a scientific question.”
Xavi, sobre las declaraciones de Carlo Ancelotti del fuera de juego del Real Madrid:
🗨️ "Me sorprende de Ancelotti estas declaraciones, la verdad. Sea fuera de juego o no. En este caso es un fuera de juego. No hay debate". pic.twitter.com/nnZvltpuLu
— Relevo (@relevo) March 19, 2023
“It is clearly offside and there is no doubt. If today they talk about VAR it’s scandalous. Offside is very clear.”
Real Madrid clearly felt somewhat aggrieved by the decision, but in this case, it is not open to interpretation. Given the climate in Spain, with Barcelona accused of corruption with former Referees Committee Vice-President Enriquez Negreira, Ancelotti’s statements are only likely to ratchet up the pressure on officials. In this case though, the decision was objectively correct.
“I am surprised that Ancelotti has doubts about the disallowed goal, because it is a scientific question.”
As scientific as Negreira getting those millions.