Francesco Calzona expressed bewilderment at the non-intervention of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in what he deemed a “clear penalty” for Napoli during their Champions League match against Barcelona. However, he acknowledged Napoli’s contribution to their own difficulties through defensive errors.
The Estadi Olimpic de Montjuic witnessed a night of regret as defensive lapses enabled Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo to swiftly secure a 2-0 lead for Barcelona with two goals in a span of 120 seconds.
Amir Rrahmani’s goal narrowed the deficit for Napoli, but Jesper Lindstrom squandered a significant opportunity to equalize with a header wide, preceding Robert Lewandowski’s goal to make it 3-1.
Expressing disappointment, Calzona stated, “Clearly, there is disappointment, because we came here trying to win the game. We had a very bad start, lost the ball an infinite number of times and you will pay when you allow so many counter-attacks to a side like this.”
Reflecting on tactical shortcomings, he added, “It was very different in the first leg, I had only got there the day before and it was difficult to organize something… We were too spread out and too slow to react when losing the ball.”
Regarding the VAR’s decision not to intervene in potential penalty incidents, Calzona remarked, “Looking at the footage, it does seem to be a penalty. I cannot understand why the VAR at these levels would not intervene in a situation like that. They should take all the time necessary to come to the right decision.”
Calzona’s tactical decisions, including the substitution of Politano with Lindstrom, aimed at maintaining pressure on Barcelona. He explained, “I substituted Politano because he was tired… There was a period where they were suffering and I needed fresh legs to press them.”
Despite Napoli’s commendable recent form, this defeat marked Calzona’s first loss on the Napoli bench after two wins and three draws across all competitions. Moreover, their prospects for qualifying for the tournament next season appear bleak, having already been eliminated from the Club World Cup, consequently paving the way for Juventus and Inter to represent in the FIFA tournament.