‘Here lies a team that made history’: Spanish press mourn ‘death’ of Real Madrid as three-time Champions League holders crash out following humiliation at home to Ajax
- Real Madrid’s Champions League title defence ended in humiliating fashion
- Santiago Solari’s side lost 4-1 against Ajax in front of their own fans on Tuesday
- On Wednesday morning, the Spanish press mourned the ‘death’ of Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s humiliating exit in the Champions League was considered in the Spanish media to be the ‘death’ of the club.
The Spanish giants have lifted Europe’s top prize in four of the last five seasons but suffered their worst exit since 2010 as Ajax produced a devastating 4-1 win on the night at the Bernabeu.
MARCA, who closely follow the exploits of Real Madrid, appeared to be in mourning with their front page, reading: ‘Here lies a team that made history’.
Spanish press mourned a ‘death’ of Real Madrid after their humiliating Champions League exit
Sport saw an ‘end of an era’ as the club saw bid for a fourth Champions League in a row ended
Madrid have enjoyed such a stronghold over their rivals in the competition in recent years but have looked shadows of themselves since Cristiano Ronaldo departed for Juventus in the summer.
Sport used a photo of a head buried inside a shirt in anguish with the headline, ‘End of an Era,’ after what they described as an ’embarrassing’ exit in the last-16.
‘Madrid suffers a shameful KO in the Bernabeu that throws them out of the Champions League,’ the front page continued.
The verdicts after the 4-1 rout were damning as Mundo Deportivo saw ‘nothing at all’ from Real
It was one of Ajax’s best performances in Europe as they turned on the style at the Bernabeu
‘And the Bernabeu calls: ‘Florentino, resign!’
While boos and anger was directed towards Thibaut Courtois, Gareth Bale and Co, the reaction on Wednesday has also seen the position of Madrid chief Florentino Perez called into question after such a feeble defence of the title they won with victory over Liverpool in Kiev last May.
The verdicts were damning as Real were blown away by their exciting, youthful opponents on the night.
Mundo Deportivo highlighted a week whereby the club have ‘Nothing at all’ left to play for.
Back-to-back El Clasico defeats to Barcelona saw them eliminated in the Copa del Rey and all but ruled out of the La Liga title race.
Real Madrid players show their frustrations as the suffer an embarrassing early exit in Europe
Former Southampton midfielder Dusan Tadic was the star of the show for Ajax in the 4-1 rout
Tuesday night’s exit, after goals from Hakim Ziyech, David Neres, Dusan Tadic and Lasse Schone, compounded a season of misery.
AS diario echoed the sentiments of their wounded rivals in the press as they led with ‘Tragic week’ with Madrid left with wounds that could take some time to heal.
Players were left shell-shocked at having detonated any hopes of a trophy in a single week, with defender Dani Carvajal holding nothing back on what he describes as a ‘s**t season.’
Carvajal said in defeat: ‘We have to be professional. We have to not hide.
‘We have to show our faces but we know that we have had a s**t season.
‘This is my worst night of my career. In a week, we lost it all and we lost it all at home. They were better, they deserved to go through.’
Real Madrid full back Dani Carvajal had admitted: ‘It’s been a s*** season’ for the Spanish club
Three home games in a week, all three ending in defeat, has extinguished the club’s season
The media on Wednesday did not turn on manager Solari but pressure will now be ramped up on him after a catastrophic few days for the club.
‘We’re sad and we’re annoyed,’ said the beleaguered boss after seeing his side thrashed by Ajax, a result which saw them exit the competition 5-3 on aggregate.
‘We did all we could but it was not enough. I’m here to work. We have to be professional and come back to work tomorrow. I have not come here to take on such a difficult moment at the club to then give up.’
Meanwhile, Ajax coach Erik ten Hag said: ‘Belief was very important for us tonight. We showed that it was possible.
‘We have lots of individual great moments but as a team we played fantastically well. If you win 4-1 against the champions, what more can you do?
‘We have to live by the day, but we see a very interesting process as a team and as individuals. The team deserves congratulations but the prizes are handed out at the end.’
Real Madrid manager Santiago Solari insisted on Tuesday night that he will not quit his job
Ajax coach Erik ten Hag was impressed with his side after they progressed 5-3 on aggregate
