Amid heavy criticism of his personal performance against Juventus, experienced Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos has urged the club’s fans and players to stay united ahead of the second leg.
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Ramos was lined up in the centre of midfield for the third time in recent games as manager Carlo Ancelotti attempted to find a replacement for the injured Luka Modric.
His previous two appearances in that position – against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and Sevilla in La Liga – both resulted in hard-fought wins, with Ramos’s physicality helping his team compete in the key midfield battleground.
Tuesday night in Turin was a different story, however, with Ramos’ limited passing skills being exposed as he regularly conceded possession cheaply, and his display in the 2-1 defeat prompted a barrage of criticism from Madrid fans and media.
Ramos remained publicly insistent that he is happy to continue in midfield if Ancelotti wishes. “It wasn’t a great match from a personal point of view,” he admitted.
“But if I have to play there again, I’ll do it happily. Nobody is to blame.”
Sergio Ramos couldn’t pass water tonight.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 5, 2015
Another player receiving heavy criticism was Gareth Bale, while Dani Carvajal was condemned for his rash challenge on Carlos Tevez to concede the match-clinching penalty.
But Ramos was keen to avoid pointing the finger, insisting that collective responsibility is the only way to maintain the team’s morale ahead of next week’s rematch.
“When we lose, we lose together,” he stated. “Unity is what is going to make the team pick itself up. We are only one step from the final and we will give it everything at the Bernabeu.”
The long-serving star also had a similar message for the team’s fans, as he said: “After a bad result you have to stay calm and more united than ever. Making mistakes is part of the game.
“A place in the Champions League final is at stake, and where better than at our stadium and in front of our fans. We have the bonus of playing at home and we ask our fans to make a major effort to spur us on to make it to Berlin.”
Before then Los Blancos have the considerable task of returning to their home ground for Saturday’s La Liga clash with Valencia, another must-win game as Madrid attempt to keep their title hunt alive.
