Real Madrid slammed by Spanish press after ‘death’ of European giants following Ajax humiliation
MARCA and AS in mourning but Catalan press loving it after the holders were knocked out the Champions League
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SPANISH newspapers mourned and mocked the death of serial European champions Real Madrid after last night's humiliating defeat by Ajax.
Real, winners of the tournament for the past three years, had not lost a Champions League match since 2015.
But last night the Dutch giants beat Madrid 4-1 at the Bernabeu to send Santiago Solari's side crashing out.
The defeat was slammed by the Spanish press.
MARCA saw the loss as the death of Zinedine Zidane's serial winners as their front page read: "Here lies a team that made history."
Catalan paper Sport was more gleeful, however, after the humiliating reverse.
Their front page included a player with his head buried in the shirt, and the headline read: "End of an Era".
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The newspaper described the loss as an "embarrassing" exit after Gareth Bale and Co failed to reach the last eight.
Sport's front page continued: "Madrid suffers a shameful KO in the Bernabeu that throws them out of the Champions League.
"And the Bernabeu calls: 'Florentino, resign!'
Having lost El Clasico earlier in the week and slipped 12 points behind Barcelona, fellow Catalan daily Mundo Deportivo reflected on the past seven days.
Its front page read "Nothing at all" in reference to the competitions and silverware Real have left to fight for.
Hakim Ziyech, David Neres, Dusan Tadic and Lasse Schone scored the goals for Ajax that sent Real out.
Madrid defender Dani Carvajal agreed with the sentiments of the Spanish press, describing this season as "sh*t".
Solari escaped the pressure from the press following the defeat but the focus will now be on how he recovers.
The interim boss said: "We did all we could but it was not enough. I'm here to work. We have to be professional and come back to work tomorrow.
"I have not come here to take on such a difficult moment at the club to then give up."