After a historic run that has seen Zinedine Zidane’s grandees win three consecutive Champions League titles and four in eight years, Real Madrid can be under no illusions.
Zinedine Zidane
Real Madrid were not just beaten but outplayed, in their defeat by Chelsea on Wednesday clear enough to spell the end of a team that has gone on and on but can no longer match the best in Europe.
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After a historic run that has seen Zinedine Zidane’s grandees win three consecutive Champions League titles and four in eight years, Real Madrid can be under no illusions. This is the third year they have failed to reach the final and the second in a row they have faced elite English opposition and been found wanting.
Ramos returns
Zidane welcomed back captain Sergio Ramos for the first time in six weeks, while Eden Hazard was handed a rare start in an injury-hit season on his return to Stamford Bridge.
But the Belgian was again a peripheral figure as Madrid’s over-reliance on Karim Benzema to provide a goal threat was exposed. “We needed to be better going forward,” said Zidane. “We didn’t have any clear chances. They made a number of them and that’s football. We fought and tried but they deserved to win and go through,” he added.
‘No excuses’
“Chelsea were the better team,” said midfielder Casemiro. “We have no excuses.”
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