Juventus Has A Champions League Curse, Sarri Cries After Loss To Lyon

Juventus Manager, Maurizio Sarri has expressed deep grief at the ouster of his team from the Champions League on Friday and believes the team is “Cursed”.

Juventus failed to pass the round of 16 at home despite defeating Lyon by 2-1 due to the away goal rule.

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The match was filled with controversies as the referee awarded two penalties to both teams which were converted by Memphis Depay for Lyon 12 minute into the game and Cristiano Ronaldo who drew level for the Turin side moments before the end of first half.

Sarri, who is under immense pressure at the club, expressed his frustration at the loss, saying Juve was cursed in the competition.

“We are out of a competition where we won six out of eight games we played, we drew one and lost one. That means that in eight matches we got 19 points,” he told a news conference.

“If there were a Champions League table we would be first or second. Instead, we are out. That’s why I feel incredibly sad. It makes me understand that in this competition Juventus are cursed.

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“If I weren’t so bitter, I would get out of this match with a smile on my face, because I saw the lads in good shape again, they gave all they had, they fought until the end, they put their heart and soul into the match. I appreciated it.”

Sarri also faulted the March official as he believed the penalty awarded to Lyon was uncalled for.

“We played a good match. In a match where we had to come from behind, we found ourselves one goal down because of a crazy penalty, because in my opinion it shouldn’t even have arrived to the box because I think there was a clear enough foul on Gonzalo Higuain. And the penalty itself I think it is debatable,” he said.

“The referee was clearly unfit for a situation like this, because for us to concede that goal was like to concede two goals. We were good because we stayed into the game and turned the match around, but we spent a lot of energy.

“We had two or three chances to score towards the end with headers from Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain and I think [Leonardo] Bonucci, so I think we were close to the qualification.
“If we have to have a regret it has to be for our performance in the first half at Lyon. At these levels, it is something you pay for.”

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Juventus are the current champions of the Italian Seria A.

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