Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has provided an insight into the reasoning behind Nuno Mendes escaping a 2nd yellow card in his side’s meeting with Paris Saint-Germain.
Left-back Mendes of course took his place centre stage in proceedings in Catalunya’s capital on Wednesday night.
This comes after the Portuguese was responsible for a Man of the Match performance, in PSG’s statement Champions League victory over Barcelona.
En route to as much, however, many are of the opinion that Mendes should in fact have been given his marching orders during the 2nd-half.
Already on a yellow card, the 23-year-old was involved in a two-man challenge which floored Lamine Yamal on the edge of the visitors’ penalty area.
Barcelona’s players and fans alike quickly called for Mendes to be dismissed for a 2nd bookable offence.
Referee Michael Oliver, however, saw the situation differently, with PSG’s star full-back having remained on the pitch as a result.
And as alluded to above, an insight into precisely why has since been provided, by none other than Hansi Flick.
Drawn on the incident in the aftermath of his side’s defeat on Wednesday, Blaugrana headmaster Flick explained:
“Nuno’s second yellow? We don’t know if this would have changed anything. But the information we received from the fourth official is that the error was made by player number 8 (Fabián Ruiz). I didn’t see the situation well, but that’s what I was told.”
Conor Laird – GSFN
