TURIN, Italy, Aug 8, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri said
he was “bitter” as the Italian giants crashed out of the Champions League on
Friday to Lyon despite a Cristiano Ronaldo double giving the hosts a 2-1 win
over the French club on the night.
Captain Memphis Depay’s 12th-minute penalty however, sealed Lyon’s berth in
the quarter-finals with a 2-2 aggregate score to go through on away goals.
A goal up after winning February’s first leg, Lyon will face Manchester
City at the final tournament in Lisbon.
“I am very bitter, I understand how much this competition is cursed for
Juve,” said Sarri, who took over as coach last summer.
The Turin side have won the tournament twice, but not since 1996.
They have been runners-up seven times, including twice in the last five
years.
Sarri’s side were coming off a tough battle to win a ninth consecutive
league title in Italy, against an opponent who were fresh after Ligue 1 was
cancelled five months ago because of coronavirus.
“The regret is to have missed the first half in Lyon. At this level it
costs,” continued Sarri of the first leg played back in February.
“They had a much more logical preparation than ours.
“I’m going home sad because we are beaten, but tonight we had a good game.
“We were immediately behind with a penalty which for me is crazy, much more
than questionable.
“But they gave everything and fought to the end. Juve had a good game and
Lyon suffered a lot.”
“If I weren’t devastated by the elimination, I would be happy with
tonight’s performance, because we brought out so much energy and the team
responded with character and showed that they have recovered in the last few
days.”
Depay’s penalty put Rudi Garcia’s side two goals ahead in the tie and left
Juve with a mountain to climb.
Needing to score three unanswered goals in order to go through, Ronaldo
tried his best to drag the Italian champions over the line.
He levelled the scores on the night with a penalty of his own with two
minutes left in the opening period before crashing a second home on the hour
mark.
Lyon managed to hold on to set up a clash with Pep Guardiola’s City, who
put out 13-time winners Real Madrid, on August 15.
“Ronaldo is a pillar of Juventus,” said Juventus president Andrea Agnelli.
“In the Champions League it’s disappointing because we had a dream.
“We will take a few days to evaluate the season.”