Ronaldo insufficient for 'cursed' Juventus
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.
An objective up after winning February's first leg, Lyon will face Manchester City at the ultimate tournament in Lisbon.
"I am very bitter, I am aware 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 already 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. As of this level it costs," continued Sarri of the first leg played back February.
"They had a much more logical preparation than ours.
"I am going home sad because we are beaten, but tonight we had a good game.
"We were immediately behind with a penalty which for me personally is crazy, a lot more than questionable.
"However they gave everything and fought to the finish. Juve had an excellent game and Lyon suffered a lot."
"If I weren't devastated by the elimination, I'd be happy with tonight's performance, because we brought out so much energy and the team responded with character and showed they have recovered within 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.
Having to score three unanswered goals so that you can proceed through, Ronaldo tried his better to drag the Italian champions over the line.
He levelled the scores on the night time 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 retain create 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'd a dream.
"We will need a few days to judge the season."
