Emre Can fumes at penalty award in Borussia Dortmund's defeat to Man City

Emre Can has claimed the referee was wrong to award Manchester City a penalty in their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday night, after the Germany international was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.

Dortmund had taken the lead in the second leg clash thanks to Jude Bellingham's early strike, though the balance of the game swung in City's favour as Can was penalised for handling the ball in the box.

A lengthy VAR check followed before referee Carlos del Cerro Grande eventually awarded the spot kick - which Riyad Mahrez converted - though Can has claimed the decision was incorrect and that it ultimately cost his side a place in the semi-finals.

"The game clearly changed after the 1-1 draw," he said to Sky Germany (via Goal). "I touched the ball first with my head and then it somehow hit my hand. The rules say it's not a handball.

"To have received a penalty against us because of that and maybe because of that, to have lost the game leaves a bitter taste. A goal was stolen from us in the first leg. It hurts."

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) moved to clarify the handball rule in March, though the final decision is ultimately at the referee's discretion when considering whether the player has moved their arm towards the ball or attempted to make themselves a bigger target.

Can's teammate Marco Reus conceded he thought the referee's decision was correct at the time, but has since changed his opinion having read the handball rules.

While the Dortmund captain admitted City were the better team on the night, he too believes the outcome of the tie could have been different were it not for the awarding of the penalty.

“From my point of view, it was a handball. But I was also just told that the ball bounced off Emre's head to his hand. According to FIFA rules, it is then not a penalty," he said.

"If it had happened like that on the other side, we would have protested loudly too, you have to be honest. You have to honestly admit that City were better and smarter today.

"You have to acknowledge that without envy. Still, if we didn't concede the goal, maybe we could have kept it open. Then we might get better counter situations, unfortunately we didn't manage that. "