Rose and Andrich address questionable foul call from Leipzig's win
Bayer 04 Leverkusen's downward trend continues following a 0-2 loss away at Leipzig. After the full-time whistle, Bayer's Robert Andrich and RB trainer Marco Rose spoke on a controversial call that proved decisive in the match.
| Marco Rose. | Photo: Borussia Dortmund/OneFootball |
Then came a decision by match official Sven Jablonski in the 32nd.
Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie took a chance with one of his trademark hard slide tackles. The B04 Ecuadorian did first touch the ball before clearing Dominik Szoboszlai off his feet with the follow-through. Jablonski felt the challenge was still too reckless and awarded a free-kick, off which Christopher Nkunku scored.
Clearly aggravated on the sidelines, Leverkusen trainer Xabi Alonso ran to the officiating team to protest that the ball had been played. Outspoken Bayer midfielder Robert Andrich made certain to tell his post-match Sky interviewers that he felt that Jablonski had erred in his judgement.
"That was a very, very important decision," Andrich huffed afterwards, "And not the right one in my opinion. The referee even acknowledged that he plays the ball and then the opponent. I think if you already play the ball, then you can not whistle a foul there. Because of this foul that is whistled against us, we conceded a goal and everything played into Leipzig's hands."
RB trainer Marco Rose was also asked about the scene afterwards. The Leipzig head-coach did concede some understanding for the perspective of Xabi, Hincapie, and Andrich; all of whom rushed towards Jablonski seeking clarification after the ruling.
"There was ball there, but there was also a lot of man, Rose said, "Maybe it is 53:47 percent decision. If I had been in Xabi's shoes, I probably would have been upset about that too."
All of the post-match gripes notwithstanding, die Werkself could hardly argue that they defended the controversial set-piece well. Nkunku met Szoboszlai's free-kick cross mostly unmarked. In addition to that, Xabi's men never really got their attack rolling over the course of the 90 minutes.
Leverkusen finished with a paltry 0.14 xG in the match.