Sergio Ramos’ yellow card plan backfires as Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari admits ‘we missed our captain’

Sergio Ramos’ yellow card plan backfires as Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari admits ‘we missed our captain’
Santiago Solari admits Real Madrid missed captain Sergio Ramos in his sides humiliating Champions League exit to Ajax on Tuesday.Real, who have won the last three Champions League trophies, were beaten 4-1 by the Dutch champions at the Bernabeu in the last-16 tie.3

Santiago Solari is under mounting pressure at Real Madrid

The Liga giants had to face a ruthless Ajax side without Ramos, who was slapped with a two-game ban by UEFA having deliberately collected a yellow card in the first leg.It was deemed to be an attempt to ensure a ban would not be hanging over him later in the competition.However, as a result, the centre-back would also have missed the first leg of their quarter-final if they had completed the job against Ajax – they went into the game 2-1 up.The thrashing to Ajax was Reals fourth defeat on the spin on home soil and rounded off a miserable week after losing to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey and La Liga.When asked if Ramos was missed, Real boss Solari told Spanish outlet Movistar: Of course. Without talking badly about any of our players, of course we missed our captain.getty3

Real Madrid missed Sergio Ramos’ leadership against Ajax

“The season is difficult, but we are here to show our heart and character in difficult moments.“Easy moments are easy for everyone, you can climb up and surf them, but difficult moments you have to show bravery.

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Real are out of contention for all trophies by March for the first time since 1996 and remain 12 points behind league leaders and rivals Barcelona.And their 1,011-day reign as European champions is over.Solari is under increasing pressure to save his job in Madrid, with former Real boss Jose Mourinho linked with a sensational return this summer.3

Dusan Tadic and Hakim Ziyech celebrate at the Bernabeu as Real Madrid are blown away

But Solari does not want the club to make any drastic decisions, despite their poor run of form.He said: What we must do is remain as calm as possible in such a difficult moment and take it on with the best character.“Madrid is bigger than any of us – it always returns – and returns even stronger.”

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