Neuer criticizes referee for Luis Diaz red card Bayern 2-1 PSG
Neuer was publicly angry with Maurizio Mariani for calling him out of goal before giving Luis Diaz a red card. Bayern played with 10 men but still beat PSG 2-1, Neuer was voted best player of the match by UEFA.
The moment referee Maurizio Mariani called Manuel Neuer away from goal to announce Luis Diaz's red card sparked the biggest controversy of the night at the Parc des Princes. Bayern Munich still beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the Champions League, but after the match, the 39-year-old goalkeeper spoke out against the "nonsense" handling of the incident.
Controversy over red card and Neuer's reaction
Luis Diaz's red card was the turning point of the match. After consulting VAR, Maurizio Mariani sent him off for a rough tackle that left Achraf Hakimi in tears. What upset Neuer was that Mariani had called him out of the goal just to announce the decision.
“He just told me his decision. If he showed me a red card, he did it, there was no need to take me out of the goal,” Neuer told Amazon Prime. He stressed that UEFA allows another player – usually Joshua Kimmich – to act as captain on the pitch: “We already have a captain on the pitch for him to talk to.”
Mariani, an Italian referee who had been suspended in his home country for poor form, was thrust into the spotlight after this unusual procedural decision. Legally, the red card was correct after VAR; the problem, according to Neuer, was the unnecessary communication between referee and goalkeeper.
Developments and tactical highlights
Bayern had to play with one less man but still left Parc des Princes with 3 points. PSG only got an equalizer thanks to Joao Neves in the 74th minute. In the context of being forced into a defensive position, coach Vincent Kompany's team prioritized organizing a low, disciplined defense and saving every run.
The key, as Neuer himself reveals, comes from the practice of “hard work” in training: “We often practice 10 v 8 or 10 v 9 exercises in training. Today, the team showed great defensive ability.” This reflects systematic preparation for a man-losing scenario: reducing risks on the wing, keeping tight vertical and horizontal distances, giving up the ball but protecting the area in front of the goalkeeper.
Neuer's key role
At 39, Neuer is still a mainstay. He was voted UEFA's man of the match after a series of crucial saves in the second half. With Bayern sitting deep, Neuer's every decision to rush forward, hand placement and closing angle were precise, helping the visitors neutralize PSG's pressing efforts.
From a field management perspective, Neuer’s reminder of the captaincy rule on the pitch is also noteworthy. With a clearly decentralised team (Kimmich substituting for the goalkeeper as captain when needed), the referee’s communication process – according to Neuer – should follow the existing channels, avoiding unnecessary disruption of the defensive rhythm of a team playing with a man down.
Aftermath
The 2-1 win with 10 men was of great moral value to Bayern. Not only did it show its ability to manage the crisis on the pitch, but Vincent Kompany’s team also confirmed its high level of organization when switching from a balanced state to an active defense. PSG created pressure and scored an equalizer, but it was not enough to break the structure that Bayern maintained until the end of the match.
Highlights
- Score: Bayern Munich 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain.
- Red card: Luis Diaz (after consulting VAR).
- PSG goal: Joao Neves 74'.
- Man of the match (UEFA): Manuel Neuer.
- Neuer complained about referee Maurizio Mariani's communication before announcing the red card.
On a night dominated by red cards and controversy, what remained was Neuer's goal: calm, timely, and big enough to cover Bayern's man deficit.
