Hughes lashes Leverkusen
23 Feb 2007 - 07:45:34
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes hit out at Bayer Leverkusen's time-wasting tactics after the German side put an end to Rovers' UEFA Cup hopes.
A goalless draw at Ewood Park meant that Leverkusen went through to the last sixteen 3-2 on aggregate and Hughes was frustrated by what he saw in the second leg.
He commented: "Time-wasting is part and parcel of the European game. It's used by many clubs. The referee needed to be stronger in that respect.
"I was more disappointed in the referee that he allowed it to happen for so long. We need to learn from that.
"They also had players diving theatrically and stopping the game. That's what Leverkusen wanted at that stage of the game.
"We are obviously disappointed and frustrated because in the second half we just needed one of the chances we created to count for us.
"If we'd able been able to convert one of them the outcome could well have been different. We gave it everything but came up short."