“No One Would Say That Was a Penalty”: De Ketelaere Criticizes Referee After Atalanta’s Loss

Atalanta midfielder Charles De Ketelaere voiced his frustration following his team’s 2-1 defeat to Club Brugge in the first leg of their Champions League playoff. The match was decided by a controversial stoppage-time penalty that left the Belgian player, a former Brugge star, deeply dissatisfied.

Speaking to Sky Sport, De Ketelaere did not mince words about the referee’s decision. “The referee was very arrogant. If you ask 100 people if that was a penalty, no one would say yes,” he stated, reflecting the anger within the Atalanta camp over the late call.

Returning to his former club for the first time since leaving for Italy, De Ketelaere admitted it was an emotional experience but lamented how the game ended. “It was beautiful, and I thank everyone for the warmth. But it hurts to lose like that at the last moment—it’s not fair,” he said.

Analyzing Atalanta’s performance, De Ketelaere acknowledged their slow start to the match. “The first half was a bit difficult. We lost many easy balls and gave them chances. We need to improve for next week so we can turn this around,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of preparation for the second leg.

De Ketelaere also reflected on a missed opportunity during the game when he linked up with teammate Lazar Samardzic in a promising attacking move. “It was a beautiful play, but I didn’t shoot very hard. I should have done better—the goalkeeper guessed where I was going,” he admitted with regret.

With Atalanta needing at least a two-goal victory in next week’s return leg to advance, De Ketelaere and his teammates face an uphill battle. However, his comments underline both the team’s determination and their dissatisfaction with how the first leg unfolded.