In the immediate aftermath, manager Hansi Flick attempted to maintain a level of professional decorum, though he could not hide his disbelief. While he criticised his team’s defensive positioning and "open" midfield, he pointedly asked reporters: "What do you think? A foul, right? No need to say anything more." Flick granted his squad two days off to "reset" from the emotional toll of the defeat, hoping to prevent the controversy from derailing their season entirely.
However, Brazilian winger Raphinha was far less reserved than his manager. Taking to Instagram to address the officiating landscape, the former Leeds United man acknowledged internal flaws but hit out at the lack of consistency. "Well, we have many things to improve, but not just us," he wrote. "It's very complicated when the rules are different, whether they're in your favour or against you, but if we have to play against everyone to win, so be it… We'll do it.."