No shame in losing to Real Madrid, says embattled PSG coach Emery

On Tuesday night, Real Madrid claimed a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 2-1 win over PSG; they had six players in their starting line-up aged 26 or under, including the entirety of their four-man midfield. This was after PSG’s 2-1 home defeat to defending champion Real Madrid completed a resounding 5-2 aggregate loss. “But either you cry or you get on with it, and I choose the second option”. When I came here I said I was sure this team can win the Champions League.

“I have to choose players and Gareth is a really important player and will be until the end”.

Zinedine Zidane’s side, who are 15 points adrift of arch-rivals FC Barcelona in La Liga but aiming for their third straight UEFA Champions League crown, were solid throughout.

With La Liga title already out of their hands, Real Madrid have all the concentration on the European competition and Ronaldo epitomised that.

He would rejuvenate a midfield of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, both of which have struggled with injuries in the last few years.

PSG were in control in the first half, dominating in midfield, but without their Brazilian talisman Neymar, who is recovering from ankle surgery, they were toothless up front. We can’t even think about it – we just have to do it.

The Portuguese was spot on in the 52nd minute, beating Areola with a downward header from Lucas Vazquez’s cross from the left. However, having suffered defeat at this time in last season’s Champions League too, they look no closer to winning the competition despite spending over €220m in the summer to land Neymar (and committing another €180m to sign Kylian Mbappe).

They also need to revamp their squad again and replace the likes of Thiago Silva, Thiago Motta, Dani Alves, and Ángel Di María, all in their 30s.

The tie had escaped them before Verratti was sent off midway through the second half, picking up a second yellow card for dissent. Casemiro’s deflected ping-pong shot went past the keeper and the tie was all but over in the 81st minute.

Paul Scholes got booked 36 times during his Champions League career and now Ramos holds the record at 37.