Santiago Solari admitted Real Madrid missed the suspended Sergio Ramos after the Champions League holders were humbled by Ajax at the Bernabeu.

Real saw a 2-1 first-leg lead overturned inside 18 minutes by Ajax who ran out 4-1 winners to seal a famous 5-3 aggregate victory, their first in the knockout stages in 22 years.

Solari insisted before the game that Real had enough quality to cope without Ramos – who served the first of a two-game UEFA suspension for receiving a yellow card on purpose in the first leg in Amsterdam – but quickly backtracked after presiding over the club’s worst defeat in European competition.

Asked if Ramos was missed, Solari told Movistar: “Of course.

“Without talking badly about any of our players, of course we missed our captain.”

The humiliating defeat, Real’s fourth on the spin at home, compounded a miserable week for Real after they were damaging defeats to Barcelona in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

“The season is difficult, but we are here to show our heart and character in difficult moments,” Solari added.

“Easy moments are easy for everyone, you can climb up and surf them, but difficult moments you have to show bravery.”

Solari’s tenure as successor to Zinedine Zidane will undoubtedly come under pressure after Real’s love affair with the competition they have won in four of the last five seasons came to an end in the last-16 for the first time since 2009/10.

But the Argentine has stressed that desperate times should not call for desperate measures, insisting Real and rise from this unprecedented slump.

“What we must do is remain as calm as possible in such a difficult moment and take it on with the best character,” he said.

“Madrid is bigger than any of us – it always returns – and returns even stronger.”

Source – Sky Sports

The forward’s finish against Borussia Dortmund all but sealed his side’s spot in the quarter-finals as well as aplace in the record book.

Photo by: Getty Image

Harry Kane’s second-half goal against Borussia Dortmund not only put his side one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions Leaguebut also it all sealed another record for the Tottenham forward.

Following a 3-0 first leg drubbing at Wembley, Spurs travelled to Germany on Tuesday for the second leg of their last 16 tie with Dortmund.

The hosts pushed for a goal throughout a scoreless first half, but it was Kane who provided the breakthrough in the third minute of the second half.

Dortmund were caught napping at the back as Moussa Sissoko played in the England forward, who faced Roman Weidenfeller all alone.

Kane provided a simple finish inside the near post, effectively giving Spurs a five-goal lead with less than a half to play.

The forward scored twice against PSV in November to take his tally to 23 goals in Europe, and it was Tuesday’s finish that saw him move into sole possession in Tottenham’s goalscoring chart on 24 goals.

The November finishes saw him pass Martin Chivers on 22 and Tuesday’s finish pushed him past former leader Jermain Defoe on 23.

Chivers is one of just three players ahead of Kane on Spurs’ all-time list of finishes, with Bobby Smith and Jimmy Greaves the only other players with more goals for Tottenham in all competitions.

Kane now has a total of 14 goals in the Champions League in addition to 10 goals in the Europa League.

As well as his Champions League efforts, Kane has 16 goals and four assists in 25 Premier Leauge appearances for Spurs this season.

He also provided a goal in the Carabao Cup, taking his total to 22 goals in all competitions this campaign.

Following Tuesday’s match, Spurs will turn focus towards Saturday’s clash with Southampton in the Premier League.

Spurs currently sit third in the league, with Manchester United just three points behind in fourth place.

Arsenal and Chelsea are lurking just behind them with Spurs currently sitting just four points from falling out of the Champions League spots.

Source – Goal.com

The Blancos’ long continental reign is over after a shock second leg defeat – a result that will have huge ramifications in the Spanish capital.

Photo by: Getty

Today’s empire, tomorrow’s ashes. Real Madrid’s vice-like grip on the Champions League is over.

Electric Ajax stunned the 13-time European champions at the Santiago Bernabeu with a 4-1 (5-3 aggregate) victory, ending their reign of over 1,000 days as kings of the continent.

And Madrid’s veteran generals will fade too. Santiago Solari has started that process by dumping Marcelo, Gareth Bale and Isco on the bench – or in the case of the latter, in the stands – although he too will fall.

This result sealed Solari’s fate and he will not manage the club next season. He cannot, after presiding over the greatest humiliation in their recent history.

Two Clasico defeats by Barcelona and this elimination by Ajax saw Madrid’s entire season crumble in the space of seven days.

They have nothing left to play for, out of the Copa del Rey, 12 points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga and eliminated from the Champions League in the last 16 for the first time since 2006.

Madrid have won the Champions League for three seasons in a row but were dismantled by Ajax as the Santiago Bernabeu’s nerves were shredded on a thrilling evening in the capital.

Solari’s side came into the last 16 second leg on Tuesday with the cushion of a 2-1 away triumph in Amsterdam, something captain Sergio Ramos deemed big enough to get himself booked for deliberately so as to be suspended for this clash.

It could have been far more uncomfortable, had VAR not ruled out a Nicolas Tagliafico goal in the first leg, or Kasper Dolberg not spurned a late chance when sent through on Thibaut Courtois’s goal.

Ramos was badly missed, with Ajax’s fancy footwork and nimble movement in attack terrifying his replacement Nacho Fernandez (who was sent off late on) and Raphael Varane.

Varane hit the bar early on with a header but Ajax bit back immediately with the phenomenal Dusan Tadic feeding Hakim Ziyech who stroked home the opener.

The Moroccan playmaker struck in the first leg and was a problem for Madrid’s defence all night – although former Southampton midfielder Tadic was even better.

Operating upfront in a false nine role, the Ajax No 10 played more like Barcelona’s No 10. His assist for David Neres’s second goal was remarkable, including a spinning roulette turn that left Casemiro dizzy and in the dust.
Gareth Bale, on as a substitute for the injured Lucas Vazquez, hit the post as Madrid tried to fight their way back into the game, but nothing went Los Blancos’ way on a frustrating night.

That was emphasised when Ajax scored their third, a sensational shot into the top corner from Tadic, his sixth goal of the competition. Along with three assists, that’s nine direct contributions to goals – no player has more in the Champions League.

Madrid quarrelled that the ball went out of play earlier in the move – and though the incident was referred to VAR, which seemed to show that the ball DID go out of play – eventually the goal was given.

Nicolas Tagliafico’s first leg goal was stricken from the records using video, but this time the technology did not save Madrid’s bacon.

Nothing could, because they were outclassed and outfought, with this result and elimination a long time coming.

Madrid have enjoyed great luck over the past three seasons as they have won their trophies, with their La Liga struggles showing that they are not a great side any more, despite what the history books say.

Marco Asensio pulled one back for Madrid, giving them momentary hope, but Lasse Schone’s spectacular, dipping free-kick slammed that door in their face as soon as it opened, ensuring Madrid’s era of European dominance is finally at an end.

Source – Goal.com

Former Arsenal midfielder Serge Gnabry has signed a contract extension at Bayern Munich until 2023.

Serge Gnabry has bagged six goals and four assists for Bayern Munich this season

The 23-year-old, who came through the Gunners’ youth academy and made 18 first-team appearances, signed for Bayern in 2017 and has also enjoyed successful year-long spells at Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim since leaving England.

Gnabry, a full German international, joined Bremen from Arsenal for a fee in the region of £5m in 2016 and registered 11 goals in 27 games during the 2016/17 campaign, earning him a move to Bayern.

Serge Gnabry came through the Arsenal youth academy

He spent the following season on loan at Hoffenheim where he scored 10 times in 22 matches, and this season he has impressed for Bayern, recording six goals and four assists in 21 Bundesliga games for the German champions.

“I feel really good here,” Gnarby said. “I have a lot of fun with this team. I hope to win many titles and enjoy great moments. I’m looking forward to a good future with Bayern Munich.”

Source – Sky Sports

Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could return to action for the Under-23s against Derby County on Friday after almost a year out with injury.

Oxlade-Chamberlain (right) joined Liverpool for £35m from Arsenal in August 2017

Robert Pires believes a fellow Frenchman would be a fine addition to the Premier League, while he sees Kylian Mbappe as a future Ballon d’Or winner.

Zinedine Zidane is considered to be “a warrior” by fellow World Cup winner Robert Pires, with Chelsea told that the former Real Madrid boss would be a fine successor to Maurizio Sarri.

The current coach at Stamford Bridge is seeing his future called into question during his debut campaign at the helm.

The Italian guided the Blues to the Carabao Cup final and has them in contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League, but has seen his methods and authority called into question.

Former Arsenal star Pires would not be surprised to see Sarri moved on this summer and believes an iconic countryman would be an ideal candidate to fill a managerial void in west London.

“It’s a very strange situation with Chelsea and how they treat their managers,” Pires told bwin.

“Sarri is a very good manager and he performed very well with Napoli, but it’s hard to see him at the club next season.

“There appears to be a lot of player power at Chelsea that he is struggling to overcome like many have before him.

“I think Zidane would be a very good appointment at Chelsea. He would demand respect from the Chelsea players and control the dressing room as a result of everything he has achieved both on the pitch as a player and on the bench as a manager.

“He’s a winner and a warrior. He’s had great success in the Champions Leaguewhich is attractive to the Chelsea owner. It would be very good news for the Premier League if Zidane moved to England.”

While tipping one fellow Frenchman to fill another high-profile post off the field, Pires is looking forward to seeing another continue to thrive on it.

Kylian Mbappe has already established superstar status at 20 years of age, as a two-time Ligue 1 champion and World Cup-winning hero, but the Paris Saint-Germain striker is being backed to take his game to even greater heights and land the Ballon d’Or at some stage.

Pires said of a precocious talent: “I think Mbappe will win the Ballon d’Or, there’s no doubt about that.

“He is football’s next big star and could reach the same status as [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi. It’s a matter of when he will win the Ballon d’Or rather than if.

“He is very consistent and he is never injured. Mbappe always performs whether that’s in Ligue 1, Champions League or with the France national team.

“He maybe just needs Ligue 1 to get more recognition so he is appreciated more and as often as his performances deserve.”

Source – Goal.com

Five youngsters have been included as part of the travelling party, including the likes of Tahith Chong, James Garner and Mason Greenwood.

Photo by: Getty Images

Manchester United are without a host of first-team stars for their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, with the likes of Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Ander Herrera again missing out.

The trio were also absent from United’s 3-2 win over Southampton on Saturday, with youngsters Angel Gomes and Tahith Chong named on the bench for that game.

And both youngsters are also in the travelling party heading to Paris on Tuesday, while there’s also a place for 17-year-old striker Mason Greenwood, and 17-year-old midfielder James Garner.

Paul Pogba, meanwhile, is absent after his red card in the first leg, which PSG won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe.

The French World Cup winner was shown a second yellow card for a mistimed challenge on Dani Alves in the closing stages of the game at Old Trafford to add to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s selection issues.

Spanish midfielder Juan Mata is another who hasn’t travelled to Paris as he continues to nurse a hamstring injury that he suffered in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool.

Alexis Sanchez, who suffered a knee injury in the win over Southampton, is also out, as is Nemanja Matic.

United are almost back to their full complement of defensive players, however, with the likes of Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Marcos Rojo and Chris Smalling all included.

Matteo Darmian and Phil Jones both haven’t travelled, though, with Under-23s full-back Brandon Williams another young player who has been given the opportunity to join the 20-man squad.

United will have their work cut out to pull off a comeback against the Ligue 1champions, although Solskjaer is adamant that his side do still have a chance of going through.

He told the club’s official website: “We can’t write games off, we’ve been fantastic away from home. We’re not going to go out without giving a fight.

“We’re going to go out there and enjoy the game. We know it’s a difficult place to come and they played really well at Old Trafford, so it’s a great challenge for our players to go out there and show what they can do.”

Man Utd travelling squad in full

Goalkeepers: De Gea, Romero, Grant.

Denders: Bailly, Dalot, Lindelof, Rojo, Shaw, Smalling, Williams, Young.

Midfielders: Fred, Garner, Gomes, McTominay, Pereira.

Forwards: Chong, Greenwood, Lukaku, Rashford.

Source – Goal.com

Tottenham forward Heung-Min Son has been named the Premier League Player of the Year at the 2019 London Football Awards.

Heung-Min Son has scored 11 Premier League goals so far this season

The South Korean was awarded the top gong for his stunning form this season that has seen him score 16 goals in 34 games in all competitions.

The 26-year-old, who also helped his country to win gold at the 2018 Asian Games, has been a key part of a Spurs side that are close to reaching the Champions League quarter-finals.

Son takes the award from last year’s winner Harry Kane

Son claimed the award ahead of team-mate and last year’s winner Harry Kane, Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend.

The award was given to Son by a panel of 22 experts including ex-players such as Bobby Zamora, Bob Wilson and Tony Cottee.

Brentford striker Neal Maupay has scored 19 Championship goals this season

Away from the Premier League, Brentford’s Neal Maupay scooped the Football League Player of the Year award for London-based teams.

The Bees forward has scored 22 goals in 37 games in all competitions this season and that form helped him beat off competition from Millwall striker Lee Gregory, QPR midfielder Luke Freeman and Charlton’s Karlan Grant and Lyle Taylor.

Source – Sky Sports

Manchester United have been fined £13,700 following crowd problems at their Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain earlier in February.

PSG beat Man Utd in the first leg in their Champions League clash at Old Trafford

Charges against United related to throwing objects and blocking stairways at Old Trafford.

PSG have also been fined £35,000 over incidents involving their supporters, including the setting off of fireworks and acts of damage.

The French club have also been told to contact United within 30 days to settle the costs of the damage.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lost for the first time as United caretaker manager on February 21 as Paris Saint-Germain won 2-0 in the Champions League last-16 first leg at Old Trafford, with Paul Pogba sent off late on.

The second leg of the tie will be played in Paris on Wednesday, March 6.

Source – Sky Sports

Valencia set up a Copa del Rey showdown with Barcelona as they reached the final for the first time in 11 years by beating Real Betis 1-0 at a bouncing Mestalla on Thursday where a second-half Rodrigo Moreno strike gave them a 3-2 aggregate win.

Valencia will play Barcelona for the Copa del Rey title. David Ramos/Getty Images

Valencia, who lifted the trophy on their last appearance in the showpiece match in 2008, will meet 30-times winners Barca in the final on May 25 at Betis’ Benito Villamarin stadium.

Marcelino’s side fought back from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw in the first leg and a goalless home draw would have seen them through on away goals. They appeared to be set up to absorb pressure, inviting Betis to have most of the possession.

The visitors had the better of the chances in a tight and tense first period and it took a strong hand from Valencia keeper Jaume Domenech to turn over a shot from Jese, while Betis defender Aissa Mandi headed narrowly wide following a corner.

Valencia showed more ambition after the interval and went ahead with a well worked move in the 56th minute which saw Kevin Gameiro race into the box and slide the ball across for Moreno to comfortably tuck it into the empty net from close range.

That meant Betis needed at least two goals to progress and, while they continued to monopolise the ball, Valencia controlled the space and rarely looked like letting their lead slip.

Valencia coach Marcelino has reached a major final at last after losing three Copa semi-finals and one Europa League semi while in charge of Racing Santander, Villarreal and Valencia.

He said it was reward for a difficult season for his side, who are ninth in La Liga after drawing 15 of their 25 games.

“This is dedicated to our extraordinary squad which has suffered so much and deserved this prize,” Marcelino told reporters.

“We have had some tough times, a lot of draws and a few defeats but we have always been a competitive team.

“The players deserve this and so do the club and fans after 11 years (since Valencia’s last Copa showpiece). This coaching staff also deserves this and we’re going to enjoy this final.”

Barcelona, who have won the last four editions of the competition, beat Real Madrid 3-0 away on Wednesday for a 4-1 aggregate victory in the other semifinal.

Barca knocked Valencia out of the Cup at the semifinal stage last season and in 2016. The two sides have not met in the final since 1971, when Barcelona won 4-3 after extra time.

Valencia have won the competition seven times.

Source – ESPN