Tuesday night's champions league encounter between The Defending Champions Real Madrid and Ajax has left me with more surprises than words to express what actually transpired at the Santiago Bernabeu. I saw the dragon summon its flames as usual to consume its enemies, but it couldn't. Though my eyes watched this unbelievable defeat happen, am still trying to convince myself that it wasn't what I saw.
Wait a bit! Am also of that notion that football is unpredictable, but hey! Could someone have ever thought about the outcome of this game or something close to it? Show me that seer. Sure, Madrid isn't at their best moments, in fact, they have been staggering all through this season to find a foothold, but when a Lion gets beaten in his own park, then there is more to it than meets the eye.
No doubt, everything that has a beginning will surely meet its end some day. However, trust me, this wasn't the way Real Madrid wanted to end their reign in European football. The humiliation is way too ignominious for a classic team like Madrid in front of their home fans, I just hope they will have something left of the season to pacify their supporters.
The defending champions were broken to pieces by a resilient and determined Dutch team, of course heralding the end of an era with one of the club's worst-ever defeats. It was Madrid's worst-ever home Champions league loss as Ajax whipped them out of the competition in a rather unpredictable fashion. Trust me, nobody saw it coming.
Many would have believed that The Defending Champions had one leg already in the quarter finals, especially after unconvincingly beating Ajax 2-1 in their first leg clash at Amsterdam. However, Ajax seems to have prepared very well and covered the cracks after the first leg. No one really gave Ajax a chance of getting away from the Santiago Bernabeu unscathed, but the Dutch powerhouse had a better plan, trust me, even the gods didn't see it coming.
Should in case you noticed an unusual silence in the Capital city of Spain on Tuesday night, just know the reason is not far away from that match. For three consecutive years now, Madrid have revelled the glory and spoils that emanates from the Champions league trophy. However, just like the saying goes "nothing in this world lasts for ever." Maybe I should call it Champions League colonisation by Madrid, whichever name you wanna describe their dominance with, just know that their continental reign is over!
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The Eredivisie side put up a masterful performance to stage a stunning comeback against the Thirteen Time European Champions at the city of Madrid, the game ended 4-1 in favour of the visitors(5-3 aggregate). The Los Blancos have proven to be a formidable force in European football under the watch of Zidane which saw them cling to the trophy for more than a thousand days. It was a memorable night as Ajax became the second team to send Madrid packing from a European Knockout tie after losing the first leg. The last time something like that happened, it was Odense Boldklub that achieved that feat in the 1994-1995 UEFA cup.
The Santiago Solari led Madrid also became the first defending champions league holders that have failed to scale through the round of 16 to the quarterfinal stage. Chelsea were the last team that got kicked out in the round of 16, and that was in 2012-2013 season. This result may push Solari to dump his so called veterans, in fact, he is already doing that. With Marcelo and Isco already warming the bench than usual, one can only guess what is in the Argentine's mind. The defeat was a slap on Solari's face, and if he must rebuild the fallen walls of Jericho in Madrid, then some persons will have to be offloaded.
The Argentine is left to gaze into the void as he is left with nothing to play for this season. His arrival after the sack of Julen Lopetegui had brought a seeming breeze of hope to the Bernabeu, however, the inconsistency in form have seen all their struggles brought to nothing by their Champions league elimination. Just in the space of seven days, Solari and Madrid have seen their season crumble with a speed of light. After two Clasico defeats to their arch rivals Barcelona, Ajax showed no mercy to the European Champions, as they added salt to injury by sending them packing from the Champions league on Tuesday night. Now, Madrid is out of copa del rey, twelve points behind league leaders Barcelona in Laliga and now no where to be found in the Champions league. Can anything worse hit Madrid again? I doubt.
Despite the pressure mounting on the Argentine Boss, Santiago Solari have it clear that he has no plans on walking away from Real Madrid despite their historical Champions League exit. "I didn't come here to give up," he told a post-match press conference. Solari also obliged his team to display character and “show bravery” as the club faces one of their most challenging times in recent memory. The season is difficult, but we are here to show our heart and character in difficult moments, he said. Easy moments are easy for everyone, you can climb up and surf them, but difficult moments you have to show bravery." The next season will bring a lot of reshuffling in the team if the Argentine Boss remains the commander of Madrid's ship. Ajax have indeed made themselves proud, the win over the Champions on Tuesday night will see them progress to the quarterfinals after 22 years. Congrats!
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