Former star accuses Real Madrid of being a team of ‘divers’ after PSG win

Real Madrid are in the driver’s seat after securing a 3-1 win over PSG at the Bernabeu last Wednesday. The win was a much needed shot in the arm for the Blancos who have fallen well off the pace in La Liga and have already been eliminated in the Copa del Rey.

The win, however, didn’t impress their former star defender Pepe who called Real’s team on Wednesday as a team of “divers”.

The Portuguese international who now plies his trade for Besiktas said, 'I did not like Real's victory [on Wednesday]. Kroos, Modric, Cristiano never stopped falling in order to win penalties. This is not the DNA of Real. Real are a team of warriors, not divers.'

A disgusting dive. Kroos’ legs collapsing like he’s just stepped on a landmine. pic.twitter.com/KRW6ztweY4

— Patrick Baines (@pbaines86) February 14, 2018

Modric produced one of the more contentious moments of the game when the nimble-footed Croat clearly dived in 64^th minute of the game – helping Real to a free-kick in a dangerous area. The dive also resulted in Rabiot getting a yellow for the same.

Modric Dive #RMAPSG pic.twitter.com/nK1jqOWCCw

— Happy Linkin (@HappyLinkin) February 14, 2018

Many also believe that Kroos exaggerated the contact at the edge of the box which resulted in the penalty – helping Real restore parity in the game which was converted by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Pepe himself is no stranger to controversies. He is a well-known figure in the footballing circles as one who exaggerates any sort of contact on the footballing field. Thus this comment will come as a surprise to many.

Real had fallen behind early in the first half after Adrien Rabiot hammered in the opener. The defending European champions, however, struck back at the stroke of halftime when Cristiano Ronaldo emphatically dispatched a penalty.

The Portuguese striker struck again (his 100^th goal in the competition in Real colours) late in the game to give them the lead before Marcelo gave them a decisive advantage with a 86th minute strike.

PSG have it all to do when they Real in the second leg at the Parc de Prices on the 7th of March. The French giants should take inspiration from their own shortcomings from the last season of the competition when they allowed Barcelona to overcome a 4-0 first leg deficit.