Del Bosque upset by wasteful Real
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Your support makes all the difference.Two goals from Steve McManaman aside, Real the Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque admitted his side had disappointed him during their 2-2 draw with AEK Athens in the Champions' League on Tuesday.
"Our first half was solid enough, we created chances and scored two goals that should have calmed us down, but in the second half they gave everything," said Del Bosque. "It was a shame, but our level dropped and their ambition was key in them getting a point."
Real are still near certainties to advance and require just one point from their remaining two games in Group C to seal their place in the last 16.
The AEK coach Dusan Bajevic was rightly ecstatic at the result."This is an historic result for us, it is not a victory, but it is very important for our qualification," he said. "It is a great result and I want to thank my players, who were splendid in the second half."
AEK are now only one point behind Roma in second place, who could only share a goalless draw with Belgium's Genk at the Stadio Olimpico. Afterwards the Roma coach Fabio Capello admitted: "Genk deserved the draw and had the best opportunities in the match." The Giallorossi visit Real Madrid next week.
The Ajax coach Ronald Koeman is already doing his sums as he tries to keep his side's hopes of reaching the next round dream alive. Group D remains wide open after both of Tuesday's games ended in draws.
Lyon are in pole position on seven points after a 3-3 draw with Internazionale, who have five, like Ajax, following a 1-1 stalemate at home to Rosenborg.
The Amsterdam side, European champions in 1995, were on their way to a win after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had given them a first-half lead. Ajax had looked the better side until the Norwegians pulled level when Dagfinn Emerly scored from the penalty spot after Jelle van Damme had handled Frode Johnsen's shot on the line.
Koeman believes his side paid the price for a lack of ambition. "We were defending too much," he said. "Of course we controlled the match, but this was an opponent with which you should keep your concentration.
"I find that we have tried too little to score a second goal. The momentum disappeared and we already had done the most difficult thing already, we scored. If we lose in Lyon we must win by two goals at home to Inter. This is an expensive draw.
"In the end these two points missed could be just too much," Koeman added. "Instead of taking a step forwards we have made a step back."
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