Off the wire
• Egypt hosts UNESCO-Arab initiative to protect heritage against extremists  • New application allows Albanian citizens to report crime online with smartphones  • African Union might miss Dec deadline to establish standby force: official  • Chicago agricultural commodities close up slightly  • Rightist, left-wing parties name their candidates for Latvian presidency  • Feature: Net metaphor brings visitors into Brazil heart at Expo Milano  • Shadow economy in Latvia slightly changed in 2014  • 1st LD Writethru: U.S. dollar drops on weak data  • U.S. urges end to violence in Burundi amid coup attempt  • African Union might miss Dec deadline to establish standby force: official  
You are here: 　 Home

Real Madrid defender Ramos laments missed chances after Champions League exit

Xinhua, May 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos lamented the 1-1 draw at home to Juventus which cost his side the chance to defend their Champions League title against Barcelona in the final.

Former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata scored the vital goal which sent Madrid out and gave Juventus a 3-2 aggregate win in a tightly fought tie.

Madrid had 22 shots on their rival's goal on Wednesday, but the only goal they scored was a Ronaldo penalty and Ramos admitted that missed chances had been decisive.

"It's tough to lose a champions league tie. We have said goodbye at one step from the final and we were favorites," lamented Ramos, who also praised the Italian side, who produced an excellent disciplined performance.

"Juventus had merits to get to the final. You have to respect a side like them and they are there because they did things better than we did," he said, lamenting the missed chances.

"We had opportunities to score in the first half to have opened a bigger lead but when you miss chances you pay for them," he said.

The Champions League exit ends a disastrous five days for Real Madrid which have seen them knocked out of Europe and all but say goodbye to the BBVA Primera Liga title after falling four points behind Barcelona with just two games to play.

"You have to improve and draw conclusions from defeats and mistakes. It hurts to have fallen just short, but that happens in football," concluded Ramos. Endite