Atletico Madrid skipper Koke blames officiating after embarrassing FIFA Club World Cup loss to Champions League winners PSG.
Spanish midfielder Koke is not a happy man after Atletico Madrid suffered a harsh 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in their FIFA Club World Cup clash, a result that left the Spanish side frustrated and searching for answers.
The European giants were outplayed in a dominant display by PSG, who unleashed their attacking prowess and midfield creativity to control the match from start to finish.
PSG overwhelm Atleti
Atlético struggled to find their rhythm against a well-oiled PSG machine, conceding early goals to Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha.
Further strikes from Senny Mayulu and Lee Kangin sealed a comprehensive victory for the French and European champions.
The defeat was compounded by a late red card for Clement Lenglet, leaving Atlético with ten men and little chance of mounting a comeback.
Koke blames the ref for the loss
Amid the disappointment, Atlético captain Koke voiced his frustration over the officiating, suggesting that the referee's decisions unfairly favored PSG.
Deep into the post-match reflections, Koke stated, "The result is not fair. We saw what happened with the referee, we saw the goals that he gave. Every call went to PSG, they always went to their side."
His comments point to the tension surrounding the match and the feeling among Atlético players that the officiating influenced the outcome.
Despite the loss and controversy, Atlético will look to regroup and learn from this experience as they continue their campaign.
PSG, meanwhile, have sent a clear message to the rest of the competition with their clinical and commanding performance, positioning themselves as strong contenders for the Club World Cup title.
Luis Enrique and his rampant champions, led by the midfield magicians Vitinha, Ruiz and João Neves, will be hoping to add the world title to their historic Champions League medals.
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