Two days after Barça's draw in Vallecas, with referee controversy, Joan Laporta has harshly criticized the refereeing of José Luis Munuera Montero, especially against two possible penalties not given to the Catalan team, which had to be content with a draw (1- 1) before Lightning.
“Penalty like a cathedral,” Laporta stated forcefully at the end of the presentation event for TV3's La Marató. “Raphinha's one, I think we all agree that it was a penalty like a cathedral and Lewandowski's too. “Two very clear penalties,” the president of the Catalan team told journalists.
The actions they refer to are clear aggression by Florian Lejeune, who violently knocks down Lewandowski, as if it were a judo hold. The Polish striker ends up on the ground before the eyes of Munuera Montero, who decides not to point anything out. Not only that, the VAR did not intervene in this play either.
The second action is a kick by Pacha Espino in injury time on Raphinha. The Rayo player hits the Blaugrana's leg without touching the ball, but the action was not sanctioned either. Laporta, despite being very critical, wanted to turn the page: “We are trying to win, which is our thing. The other thing is water gone."
He was also asked about Barça's chances of winning this League: "We are in the mood and we are going for everything." The culé president showed his “total and absolute confidence” in Xavi Hernández, who is increasingly questioned about the team's results and play.
“We closed ranks with the coach and his coaching staff. For us it is a pride to have a coach like Xavi, we have always said it. We are totally with him. “We have full confidence in him,” he stated.
“Now he has all the players available. Frenkie and Pedri are available and we have many more options than we had,” considers the president of FC Barcelona, who tomorrow faces Porto (9 p.m.) on the fifth day of the group stage of the Champions League.
