Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has doubled down on his criticism of the officiating in his team's recent Champions League exit, expressing continued bewilderment over a key VAR decision. The flashpoint came during their quarter-final clash with Atletico Madrid, where a potential penalty incident involving Marc Pubill went unpunished, a call that Flick believes was "decisive" in the match's outcome.

The frustration at Camp Nou is palpable, with the club having formally lodged a complaint with UEFA over referee Istvan Kovacs's performance and the subsequent lack of VAR review. For Flick, this public backing from the club is crucial. "You can make a mistake once but not twice," he stated, emphasizing the perceived injustice. "The club's support is a great help."

While the German coach remains a supporter of VAR's intent to improve the game, he was clear about its failure in this instance. He argued that the system's very purpose is to intervene on clear errors, a duty he feels was neglected at a pivotal moment. "That decided the match," Flick concluded, pointing to the non-call as a turning point in a tie where his side admittedly didn't play their best.

Amidst this controversy, Flick also brushed off comments from Real Madrid's youth coach, Alvaro Arbeloa, who has repeatedly referenced the 'Negreira case' to suggest a refereeing bias against Real Madrid. Showing a disciplined focus, Flick dismissed the noise from the capital. "I don't waste my energy. It's his opinion," he said, redirecting attention to his own squad's objectives. "We have to focus on ourselves and not on what Real Madrid does."