PSG hit out at referee after Nantes defeat: Look at the images and then judge

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has publicly criticised French referee Mikael Lesage, who was in charge of the Ligue 1 leaders' game against Nantes on Saturday.

Mauricio Pochettino's side lost 3-1 away at Nantes, just a few days after beating Real Madrid 1-0 on home soil in the first leg of their Champions League's last-16 tie.

"[Nantes defender] Dennis Appiah should have been shown the second yellow card for the penalty on [Kylian] Mbappe," said Leonardo.

"And a second yellow, logically, means a red card and sending off. In addition, the referee stopped giving many fouls on our players.

"But no, he said: 'No, it's Mbappe and Neymar, I don't give anything. It's [Lionel] Messi and PSG, I don't give anything'.

"I may be wrong. After losing, we accept defeat and we will learn from this. There are many mistakes, things that we did not do well.

"But, with the referee, today, it has been like a 'poum poum poum, I'm shooting at you'.

"I didn't say that [we lost because of him]. Don't start. Look at the images and then judge. We lost, but I'm talking about facts of the game that were very clear to me. But if you don't agree, I respect it. It's my opinion."

Verratti also criticises the referee

PSG midfielder Marco Verratti wasn't pleased either with Lesage's refereeing on Saturday and expressed his unease after the loss against Nantes.

"How is it possible that [Appiah] doesn't receive a yellow card?" the Italian questioned.

"It's a [second] yellow, it's a red, it's a penalty. Sometimes you have to take responsibility, but the referee screwed us."