‘I don’t give a s***! He was arrogant the whole game, it’s a scandal’: Borussia Dortmund’s former Liverpool star Emre Can RAGES over Chelsea’s retaken penalty winner and the ‘afraid, arrogant’ referee
An enraged Emre Can has lashed out at referee Danny Makkelie for his performance in Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League exit at the hands of Chelsea, branding the result as ‘scandalous’.
The Blues trailed 1-0 from the first leg in Germany but were relentless in their efforts to turn the tie around in west London, a goal from Raheem Sterling in the first half and a re-taken penalty from Kai Havertz earning a deserved 2-0 win.
But Havertz’s re-taken penalty was a huge point of contention for the Dortmund players, after Salih Ozcan was deemed to have encroached as the first spot-kick was taken.
Can and Co argued that Ben Chilwell was also guilty of encroaching but Makkelie stuck with his original decision to have the penalty re-taken, prompting Can to launch a furious tirade at the referee in his post-match interview.
The former Liverpool midfielder failed to keep his cool and now risks being punished by UEFA after he blamed the match official for Dortmund’s last-16 exit.
Emre Can (pictured) has lashed out at ref Danny Makkelie for Borussia Dortmund’s defeat
Chelsea were awarded a penalty after Ben Chilwell’s cross hit Marius Wolf’s hand in the box
Kai Havertz’s first penalty was saved but Makkelie spotted an encroachment as it was taken
Several Dortmund and Chelsea players can be seen in the box as the first penalty is taken
Can said after the game: ‘The referee. It was his fault today. How can you give the second penalty in the situation? How does it work? That simply does not work!
‘I don’t give a s*** who walked in there before. He was arrogant the whole game – that’s where it starts. We lost here undeservedly because of the referee.’
The livid German also accused Makkelie of unequal treatment, sensationally claiming that the 40-year-old was afraid of the Stamford Bridge crowd.
‘We play here at Stamford Bridge. Maybe he’s afraid of the fans, I don’t know,’ Can sensationally claimed. ‘But then UEFA should send another referee.’
Chelsea peppered Dortmund’s goal in the first period with Felix and Havertz both going close, the latter striking the post with a wicked drive late in the half.
Sterling’s goal in the 43rd minute repaid the raucous support lent by the crowd at Stamford Bridge before Havertz’s twice-taken penalty completed the turnaround, hitting the post first time before scoring at his second attempt.
Dortmund boss Edin Terzic felt the penalty awarded against his team by VAR for a handball against Marius Wolf was the call that ultimately turned the direction of the tie against his side.
Makkelie (centre) ordered Havertz to retake the penalty, prompting furious Dortmund protests
Havertz scored the re-taken penalty to send Chelsea into the Champions League quarter-finals
Havertz (right) celebrates scoring the winner but the result left Dortmund star Can livid
‘If a decision takes five or six minutes to make you know it’s not been an easy call,’ said Terzic.
‘I’m the manager, I’m responsible for performances. But not for the performance of the referee.
‘In both legs it was very tight games. Inches decide whether you’re going to go to the next round. We’ve been unlucky in moments, but this is part of the game.
‘We knew we’d have to show two top performances. Both teams deserved to go through but Chelsea scored twice, we didn’t, so we can’t complain about being out.’