Barcelona director dismisses Bilbao protests: “Protest all you want, we got the three points”

Speaking after Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Athletic Club on Sunday night, director Jordi Cruyff has dismissed the Basque club’s protests over their disallowed goal.

Raphinha handed the lead to the Blaugrana late in the first half. But Athletic did not give up and put the visitors under pressure, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen having to come up with several stops to keep the hosts out.

Athletic Club did find the back of the net late in the contest through Inaki Williams, but the VAR ruled it out because of a handball in the buildup by Iker Muniain.

The decision, however, did not go down well with Ernesto Valverde and his players as they protested the decision and voiced their displeasure after the game.

However, Barcelona director Cruyff, who spoke to the media after the game, dismissed those protests saying that VAR was there to ensure that the right calls were made.

“You can protest all you want, but VAR does justice 99% of the time. Pity for Bilbao, but it was a handball. Congratulations to Bilbao for the pressure, but we got the 3 points,” he said (h/t Actualite Barça).

The win ensured that Barcelona are now nine points clear of Real Madrid, who had won their game against RCD Espanyol on Saturday to reduce the difference.

With the Clasico coming up at Spotify Camp Nou this coming weekend, another win against their arch-rivals would all but ensure the La Liga title for Xavi Hernandez’s men.