Bayer Leverkusen boss Kasper Hjulmand has shared how Nicolas Jover called him out after the opening goal of Wednesday’s Champions League first leg against Arsenal.
Bayer Leverkusen scored the opening goal of their Champions League last-16 tie against Arsenal on Wednesday with a set piece, as Robert Andrich headed home at the far post for 1-0.
The goal came from a smart bit of blocking, with Bayer Leverkusen players jamming up the middle of the six-yard box to allow Andrich space for the header.
But the irony was that Leverkusen boss Kasper Hjulmand had been complaining about this very technique the previous day.
“We set blocks to create space for other players. Sometimes it happens far away from the ball. And as I understand football, when you make a body check, the ball has to be in play,” Hjulmand said on Tuesday.
“I just wonder: is it within the rules that you can block without the ball being near you?”
After Andrich’s goal, Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover could be seen speaking to Hjulmand, and the Leverkusen boss explained afterwards what was said.
“I’m just questioning (before the game), is it actually in the rules that you can bodycheck and take players out without the ball? So he was just looking [and saying], ‘you do it too?’ Yeah, we are doing it too,” Hjulmand admitted.
Fortunately, Arsenal managed to get a late equaliser to ensure the corner goal wasn’t the winner on the night, and the Gunners will now have the chance for revenge at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
As for Hjulmand’s dispute with Jover, it just goes to show that everyone is ready to complain about Arsenal benefitting from the way the game is officiated, but that won’t stop them trying to exploit the same weaknesses themselves.
To Hjulmand’s credit, it seems he’s more than happy to admit as much.