Jesse Marsch accuses Swedish referee of wanting Neymar’s AUTOGRAPH as RB Leipzig boss fumes at officials ‘favouring the big clubs’ after 2-2 draw with PSG
- Jesse Marsch has hit out at Swedish referee Andreas Ekberg over his officiating
- RB Leipzig rescued a late draw against PSG in their Champions League group tie
- However, Marsch says it seemed like Ekberg wanted Neymar’s autograph
- Neymar also tried to unsettle Dominik Szoboszlai before his last-gasp penalty
RB Leipzig boss Jesse Marsch has hit out at referee Andreas Ekberg over his officiating of the German side’s draw with Paris Saint-Germain, accusing the official of wanting an autograph from Neymar.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s stoppage time penalty gave the Germans a share of the spoils in their Group A clash on Wednesday night.
However, Marsch was left fuming at decisions made by Swedish referee Ekberg and received a yellow card in the first half for vociferously protesting against several calls made at the Red Bull Arena.
Jesse Marsch has accused referee Andreas Ekberg of wanting PSG star Neymar’s autograph
The RB Leipzig boss was booked for strongly remonstrating during their game on Wednesday
The American expressed his anger after the game, claiming that Ekberg wanted an autograph from PSG star Neymar, such is – in his view – referees’ tendency to favour bigger clubs.
‘I have the impression that referees decide in favour of the big teams instead of the small ones,’ Marsch said at his post-game press conference via Goal.
‘It’s hard to get respect from the refs. It seemed as if the referee wanted to get an autograph from Neymar!’
The American coach believes that officials favour the bigger clubs over the smaller sides
It has also been revealed that Neymar attempted to get under Szoboszlai’s skin before his crucial spot kick on Wednesday by quizzing the Austrian on his confidence before he stepped up against Gianluigi Donnarumma.
‘He asked me: “Are you going to score?”‘ Szoboszlai said of the PSG star.
‘I said, “Yes.” He said, “Are you sure?” I told him: “I never miss!”‘
Elsewhere, Mauricio Pochettino was left to rue his side’s slow start to the contest in Germany, as the Argentine conceded that his side must ‘do better’ when in possession.
It was also revealed that Neymar tried to unsettle Dominik Szoboszlai before his penalty kick
‘It was our fault to totally misfire at the start,’ said Pochettino after the final whistle. ‘We did not start well, and we controlled the game better in the second.
‘Statistics will show that we must do better in possession and that we must be more in control against teams who can play in transition like Leipzig.
‘Losing top spot changes nothing. You have to want to beat Manchester City to qualify anyway.’
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