Real Madrid were eliminated from the UEFA Women’s Champions League on Wednesday after conceding what coach Alberto Toril called an “infantile” penalty in a 1-0 home defeat to Paris FC.
Madrid are bottom of Group D of the UWCL with just one point from four games, and the loss to Paris allows them to mathematically qualify for the quarterfinals of the competition.
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The result marks the second year in a row that Madrid’s women’s team, which was not officially introduced until 2020, has been eliminated from the organization phase.
Paris’ Gaëtane Thiney scored the match goal in the 78th minute, converting from the penalty spot after midfielder Maite Oroz committed a clumsy foul on Celina Hocine, the defender pulled away from the goal.
“We come back unhappy with the result,” Toril said in the post-match press conference. “Either team could have won. The children penalize the match. You can’t give that penalty, and he the game. I say childish. ” Penalty because [contact] is minimal, but it’s clear. It probably wouldn’t give that kind of penalty.
Despite the team’s disappointing performance in the Champions League – with a 2-2 draw at home against Chelsea followed by a loss to Hacken and back-to-back defeats to Paris FC – Toril said the team is “growing”
“If you look at UEFA’s coefficient, we are in the top ten most sensible,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time. We had a lot of upheavals that took a heavy toll on us. As a result, we couldn’t show our potential. “
Madrid are second in Spain’s Liga F, nine points behind Barcelona, but have faced a difficult season with injuries to star players Caroline Weir and Golden Girl winner Linda Caicedo.
“We don’t excuse ourselves with injuries, but it’s obvious,” Toril said. “It’s a task that’s growing, that requires work. We have to grow, conform to the situation and, in order to achieve our goals. . . When you try, it’s not a failure. “