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Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has described his club’s 2018-19 season campaign “disastrous” in a social media message to fans.
Madrid’s bid to end the campaign with a trophy ended in a seven-day spell when they were eliminated by Ajax at the Champions League round-of-16 stage — following back-to-back home Clasico defeats to Barcelona, which had ended their interest in both the Copa del Rey and La Liga title race.
Sunday’s 4-1 La Liga win at Real Valladolid was welcome but did not ease the sense of crisis around the Bernabeu. So Ramos took the unusual step of interviewing himself on Instagram and Twitter to show supporters that he has accepted responsibility for the club’s shortcomings.
“As footballers we like to do our talking on the pitch but this season is not turning out that way,” the 32 year old said. “Recent events have been disastrous and I’m not hiding.
“We are not hiding. We the players are primarily responsible and I, as captain, more than anyone. That’s why I thought that the most honest way to answer the questions that are circulating around us would be to tackle them directly.”
Ramos then proceeded in Q&A fashion to answer a series of questions, including: “What’s happening with the coach?”with president Florentino Perez thought to have already decided to sack coach Santiago Solari with Zinedine Zidane reportedly set to replace the Argentine.
“It’s a decision that’s not ours to make and in which we never interfere,” Ramos said. “We have enormous respect for the position and we always support the Real Madrid coach.
“These reflections are, without doubt, the result of a deeply disappointing season but if success didn’t stop us, we’re not going to let defeat stop us. It’s our obligation to carry on, to work and to evolve.”
Ramos also appeared confirm reports of a frank exchange with Perez in the dressing room after last week’s Champions League exit at the hands Ajax.
“Did you argue with the President in the dressing room?” he asked — answering “Dressing room issues are discussed and resolved in the dressing room. There’s no problem whatsoever and everybody has the same interest: Real Madrid.”
Ramos also said it was a mistake to get himself suspended for that return leg against Ajax, by picking up a booking in the first meeting.
“Absolutely it was an error and I take the blame 200%,” he said.
Ramos was being filmed for an Amazon Prime documentary series in a Bernabeu VIP box while watching his team exiting the Champions League, which he also addressed.
“Why did you record the documentary? There are certain commitments made and it never remotely went through my head that the game could have turned out as it did. The recording itself was scaled down as the game went on,” he added.
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