Real Europe exit unravels Perez's plan
Source: Agencies |
March 12, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
REAL Madrid's exit from the Champions League has cast serious doubt on club President Florentino Perez's plans, which had included winning a 10th European title in May.
An early goal from Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday against Olympique Lyon had evened the two-leg series and put Real on course to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2004. But Miralem Pjanic's 75th-minute goal sent the French team through 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real coach Manuel Pellegrini and Lyon counterpart Claude Puel seemed to agree that while the hosts dominated the first half, the visitors were the stronger team in the second.
"In the first half they were a good team," Puel said. "They're going in the right direction and the coach is doing a great job."
Not everyone would agree. Real is at the top of the Spanish league, level on points with defending European champion Barcelona. However, this season it has exited both the Copa del Rey and the Champions League at the round-of-16 phase.
Perez clearly expected a better showing when he spent about 250 million euros (US$340 million) in the offseason on signing players such as Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso and bringing in Pellegrini. An appearance in the Champions League final, to be played in the Bernabeu, was a major objective for this Real squad.
In the wake of Wednesday's elimination, the position of Pellegrini is under intense scrutiny, with influential sports daily Marca heading its front page with: "Goodbye Champions League, Goodbye Pellegrini."
However, Real Director General Jorge Valdano backed the coach after the game.
"Debate always surrounds the coach of Real," Valdano said. "Pellegrini has a contract and the club's plans are that he should continue as Real coach."
A poll of about 10,000 participants by El Mundo newspaper laid the blame on the players. Forty-six percent of those asked said the Champions League failure was the fault of those on the field, with only 16 percent blaming Pellegrini. Another 22 percent saw Perez as the culprit.
Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez blamed the result on too much individualistic play, a similar appraisal to that of Pellegrini.
"We need to be more of a team," said the midfielder, who set up Ronaldo's goal before fading in the second half.
Knocking out Real, meanwhile, has left Lyon dreaming of another trip to the Spanish capital - this time for the final.
Lyon has never gone beyond the quarterfinals of European club soccer's showcase event. But having eliminated Real in the knockout stage for the first time, it is now thinking it could go all the way to the final, to be played on May 22.
"I shouldn't say so but I did shed a little tear," Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas, not a man to show emotions, told reporters after the match.
"Now we have crazy dreams in our heads, and one is to come back here for the final," he added.
An early goal from Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday against Olympique Lyon had evened the two-leg series and put Real on course to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2004. But Miralem Pjanic's 75th-minute goal sent the French team through 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real coach Manuel Pellegrini and Lyon counterpart Claude Puel seemed to agree that while the hosts dominated the first half, the visitors were the stronger team in the second.
"In the first half they were a good team," Puel said. "They're going in the right direction and the coach is doing a great job."
Not everyone would agree. Real is at the top of the Spanish league, level on points with defending European champion Barcelona. However, this season it has exited both the Copa del Rey and the Champions League at the round-of-16 phase.
Perez clearly expected a better showing when he spent about 250 million euros (US$340 million) in the offseason on signing players such as Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso and bringing in Pellegrini. An appearance in the Champions League final, to be played in the Bernabeu, was a major objective for this Real squad.
In the wake of Wednesday's elimination, the position of Pellegrini is under intense scrutiny, with influential sports daily Marca heading its front page with: "Goodbye Champions League, Goodbye Pellegrini."
However, Real Director General Jorge Valdano backed the coach after the game.
"Debate always surrounds the coach of Real," Valdano said. "Pellegrini has a contract and the club's plans are that he should continue as Real coach."
A poll of about 10,000 participants by El Mundo newspaper laid the blame on the players. Forty-six percent of those asked said the Champions League failure was the fault of those on the field, with only 16 percent blaming Pellegrini. Another 22 percent saw Perez as the culprit.
Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez blamed the result on too much individualistic play, a similar appraisal to that of Pellegrini.
"We need to be more of a team," said the midfielder, who set up Ronaldo's goal before fading in the second half.
Knocking out Real, meanwhile, has left Lyon dreaming of another trip to the Spanish capital - this time for the final.
Lyon has never gone beyond the quarterfinals of European club soccer's showcase event. But having eliminated Real in the knockout stage for the first time, it is now thinking it could go all the way to the final, to be played on May 22.
"I shouldn't say so but I did shed a little tear," Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas, not a man to show emotions, told reporters after the match.
"Now we have crazy dreams in our heads, and one is to come back here for the final," he added.
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