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Archive for March 11, 2009

Heinze press conference

Gabriel Heinze was the first player to offer a press conference following Real Madrid’s elimination from the Champions League.

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How would you describe the elimination?
It’s a very tough blow. It was devastating, but I won’t dwell on it.

Raul apologized to fans after the match. Do you believe the team wasn’t up to par?
I am upset we didn’t make it through, but the opponent was better than us. They deserve to be in the quarterfinals.

Why was there such a noticeable difference between the two teams?
They are a well-composed team. They know what they need to do on the pitch. They are a compact squad and their game has been developed over the course of many years.

Do you think the referee’s performance was relevant?
At this level it’s a bit bothersome because it meant two goals, but there is nothing to say. It hurt us this time, but he is only human.

Does it strike you that Casillas was considered a hero and the rest of the team as villains?
This is football. No one gets away with anything here. There are no heroes or villains because we were all eliminated. We are a group and I will not accept the word villain. We lost; we all lost. We win together and lose together.

How do you overcome this situation?
By winning on Saturday.

Would you hold early election?
I am a player. Saturday is all I am thinking about.

How is the team’s state of mind?
Last night’s defeat was hard on all of us. A footballer also loses a lot in defeats like this one. But when playing for this club you need to search for strength wherever you can find it.

All the team can do now is focus on La Liga.
But there’s nothing positive in that. It’s only because there is nothing else left. We must focus on this competition and do the best we can.

Is this the toughest defeat of your career?
It’s a very sad time, but all defeats are. I don’t know if this is the hardest or not, but I haven’t stopped to think about it .

Are you mad or sad?
Sad.

Has the team come to any conclusions about what happened?
It’s hard to talk after losing. Little is said when people are down, so it’s hard to draw any conclusions.

Do you think the defeat was the appropriate conclusion for a season plagued by problems?
Everything has an influence, but that is no excuse. Players come out to play, not directors. Yesterday we were not thinking about the club’s problems, but about our excitement to win. We must be professional and reach every match in top form.

Was the difference between the two teams a matter of skill or attitude?
It wasn’t a matter of attitude. I think there was a difference in game plan and work put forth.

How is a team capable of picking itself up and turning things around?
Everyone has to come up with an answer. That is why we are here. We live with lots of pressure and sense of responsibility, but I know where I am and who I play for. I feel privileged to be here and I will hold my head up high until the day I leave. We must all move on. We are a strong, good group. We’ve had our rough patches and we know we can overcome them.

Is going from a superstar to being asked to leave in one match upsetting?
Absolutely. I try to brush everything off. This is a great club and it’s an everyday occurence. We just need to move on when bad things happen and maintain a balance when things go well.

March 11, 2009 | Categories: Press Conference | Tags: | Leave A Comment »

Post-match comments

Juande Ramos offered his point of view following Real Madrid’s elimination from the Champions League. Sergio Ramos and Pepe apologized to fans for the defeat suffered at Anfield, but both insist the team will do whatever it takes to win La Liga. Cannavaro and Marcelo described the team’s spirits and apologized to Madridistas after giving up four goals to Liverpool. Real Madrid Sporting Director Pedja Mijatovic gave his impressions of the Liverpool-Real Madrid match upon its conclusion. The all-time top scorer of the Champions League, Raul apologized to fans and thanked them for their support.

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Juande Ramos:

We conceded two early and doubtful goals. The first after a foul and the second a penalty that shouldn’t have been. We took too many risks hoping to equalise and they scored two more off the counter. They deserve to go through and should be congratulated.

Two teams play each match and they were the better side. After they scored twice it was hard for us to battle our way back. The team did the best they could do. Reaching the quarterfinals means you must beat Europe’s very best. There is so much parity.

Before risking a serious injury I preferred to replace [Robben] with another player on the left wing.

The team is sad and unhappy. We must think about the next match and not keep our heads hung.

We must go back out there and fight for the league with all our might. We will do whatever it takes to finish as high as we can in the table.

Sergio Ramos:

Hats off to the opponent for the match they played. We were eager to turn the tie around, but they took us by complete surprise. I’d like to apologize to the fans for not giving them the win we all wanted. We are standing tall because we gave it our best effort. The minor details determine the result and they benefitted; in this case two controversial calls that resulted in the first two goals. Nothing happened the way we thought it would in the opening minutes. We wanted to surprise them along the wings thinking they would retreat. We don’t like losing by such a large margin in a competition we wanted to win. We haven’t been lucky in Europe in recent years. We must continue working hard for La Liga.

Pepe:

The referee should have called a foul before Torres scored. The game changed course from that moment. I was the last player and I felt I was pushed. Liverpool started off well. We had been warned that they would pour on the pressure in the first 20 minutes. We are sad about the score. We’d like to apologize to our fans. It’s the only way I can thank them for their support. We weren’t able to come back and win. We are hurt, but we must move on and make up ground in La Liga. Real Madrid players must be proud to wear this shirt.

Cannavaro:

We started off on the wrong foot. Liverpool attacked well from the beginning, pressured us and were the superior team. It was the strangest thing I ever saw. It was very difficult after the penalty.

The team isn’t in good spirits, but we must get over it because we have another tough match on Saturday. We feel sorry for Real Madrid fans, who were very excited about the Champions League. Now we only have La Liga to play for. We must be a better, stronger team.

Marcelo:

It’s a shame. It was a sad match. Going home after conceding four goals isn’t fun, but there are times like tonight where you just can’t do anything.

We tried it from the left, from the right  and from the middle, but we weren’t able to score. The match would have been much different had we scored first.

We must now focus on La Liga and retaining the title. We’ve lost a little ground to Barcelona, but I am sure we will cut into their lead and catch them.

Mijatovic:

It was sad and painful. Once again we were unable to make it past the last 16. Liverpool played well in both legs. We weren’t in the match throughout its entirety. We are worried. We didn’t play well at all.

We must tip our hats to Liverpool. We must apologize to our fans who came to see us and who watched us on television. It’s a real shame.

We must speak, make assessments, and reflect on what took place. I am not mad because we were inexistent.

We have won this competition more than any other team. We won it after 32 years and then we won three. Now we haven’t made it to the quarterfinals in five straight years. I don’t know what to say. Perhaps we needed to be more focused.

Raul:

Liverpool were better in all facets. That’s another goodbye to the Champions League. We need to thank our fans. We were all excited, but Liverpool were the better team. There are no excuses. Congratulations to them.

Losing 4-0 in the Champions League is painful, but we must pick ourselves up. We still have La Liga and we must leave our pride aside and try to win it. We’re only six points off and we can’t just give it away.

This is just a cycle and we have to accept it. Real Madrid hadn’t won this competition in 32 years, then managed to always reach the semifinals. Now it’s time to suffer, but we must continue working.

We have hard days ahead, but we must stay calm. We have another match coming up at another tough stadium. We know we must win to stay alive in La Liga.

March 11, 2009 | Categories: Post-match Comments, UEFA Champions League | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid

There’s no need to question Liverpool’s four goals against Real Madrid. The Reds gained the upper hand in the first leg and took control of the second with an early goal by Torres followed by a penalty. Gerrard bagged the third and the uphill battle was too steap to climb. The Madridistas gave it their best shot until the final whistle, but Dossena put the nail in the coffin with Liverpool’s fourth.

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The only new face in the lineup for Real Madrid was that of Wesley Sneijder, who stepped in for Marcelo. On the other bench, no surprised faces as Fernando Torres made his way onto the pitch. Things didn’t start exactly how the Madridistas had hoped. Seconds into the match, Lass cleared to corner the first attempt by Torres. Liverpool took quick control and attacked with the Gerrard, Babel, Torres and Kuyt foursome. On 3′ Gerrard dribbled by Lass inside the box and provided the Spanish striker with a perfect ball to sned home. Mascherano produced a brilliant volley one minute later. Later Gerrard was responsible for a free kick from three yards outside the top of the box. Casillas. Casillas. Casillas.

Real Madrid first opportunity was a Ramos header following a Sneijder free kick on 8′. With almost a quarter hour gone by, Pepe tried to clear the ball which reached Kuyt, who put it on a silver platter for Torres to steer into the back of the net. Real Madrid were unable to exploit the flanks. Robben was shadowed all night and Higuain couldn’t avoid Mascherano and Xabi Alonso.

The referee pointed to the penalty spot believing Heinze had gotten a hand on the ball. Gerrard converted to put Liverpool up 2-0. Reina responded on the other end and cleared a powerful shot by Sneijder on 29′, a crossed shot by Higuain on 30′ and another by Sneijder following a pass by Robben on 41′.

Things didn’t get any better in the second half. Babel galloped down the left wing and passed the ball back to Gerrard, who closed out the tie with a volley on 46′. Real Madrid needed four goals to pull level, but not much changed after Marcelo stepped in for Robben. Ramos curled in a cross that Raul sent into the stands (50’) and Liverpool responded with a counter thwarted by Casillas (53’).

Liverpool were in complete control despite allowing Madrid to possess the ball. The Whites overtook the midfield with Xabi Alonso now on the bench but were unable to produce any results. They stood tall until the final whistle despite having their hearts ripped out and being eliminated from the Champions League.

Lineups:

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Fabio Aurelio, Mascherano, Xabi Alonso (Lucas Leiva 62′), Gerrard (Spearing 75′), Kuijt, Babel, Torres (Dossena 86′);

Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Heinze, Cannavaro (Van der Vaart 66′), Lass, Sneijder, Gago (Guti 79′), Robben (Marcelo 48′), Higuaín, Raúl;

Goals:

1-0, 16′ – Torres

2-0, 28′ – Gerrard (Pen)

3-0, 47′ – Gerrard

4-0, 88′ – Dossena

Notes: Return leg of the Champions League last 16

Played at: Anfield Road.

Attendance: 45,000.

Referee: Mr. Frank De Bleeckere (BEL).

Booked: Mascherano, Gerrard, Dossena, Marcelo, Pepe, Heinze;

Aggregate: Liverpool 5-0 Real Madrid.

March 11, 2009 | Categories: Match Reports, UEFA Champions League | Tags: , , , , | Leave A Comment »

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