Champions League - Real surprised over ruling

Eurosport - Tue, 06 Jan 09:54:00 2009

Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos has expressed his surprise on learning the club would only be able to register one of their new signings, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Lassana Diarra, for this season's Champions League.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 La Liga Real Madrid-Villarreal Huntelaar - 0

UEFA rules dictate clubs can register up to three new players for the knockout stage by February 1 but only one who has already played this season in Europe with his previous club.

Netherlands striker Huntelaar (pictured) and France midfielder Diarra have already played in the UEFA Cup this season for Ajax and Portsmouth respectively.

Asked if he was surprised when he learned of the rules, Ramos said: "Effectively yes, because I was not aware of it.

"But we still have a month left before we know the ultimate solution," he added.

"We have time and a lot of things can happen. There could be an injury or a player could hit a bad patch of form, and at the moment we are not in the rush to make the decision [on who will be registered]."

Real, who face Liverpool in the last 16 of the Champions League, initially said they had a different interpretation of the regulations and would try to register both players but appear now to have accepted only one can take part.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 6 of 6

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  1. Go Torres!!!
    Think of your goal against Real in­ February 2007!!
    You'll be our star man!!
    I belive­ in u!
    C'mon Reds!!
    Liverpool----CHAMPIONS OF:

    ­ CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
    PREMIER LEAUGUE
    ­ FA CUP
    SEASON 2008/09

    From aPRiL__Liverpoolfan from Austriaaa, on Sun 11 Jan 4:37PM

  2. if this is the case why pavlyechenko and corluka­ cup-tied

    From yid of the yids, on Tue 6 Jan 10:25AM

  3. Ramos made the same blunder at Spurs when he misjudged­ the team's balance, handing Harry a big headache to­ sort out the strikers', midfielders' and­ defenders' problems. Let's hope we could get a­ great match out of this game. Both Liverpool and Real­ Madrid are good attacking teams with a lot of history­ behind them. This should be a cracker which both teams­ must deliver.

    From cokrowinoto, on Tue 6 Jan 1:30AM

  4. I'd choose Diarra, as Real need a lot of help in­ midfield to stand up to Liverpool. Hutelaar is a great­ striker, but they have a lot of fire-power already.­ Liverpool's defence must be at their very best to­ make it into the next round - it's possible, no­ doubt, but only if they get it right and rise to­ challenge. May the better win, and may it be a great­ clash! Common Torres, be our man to win.

    From gordon.merk, on Mon 5 Jan 9:22PM

  5. Ramos!! You're not so special and even if you­ are...you are not gonna step over the rules..You just­ gonna have to make the best outta what you got right­ now and plz don't be fooled that Calderon is on­ your side and he can get you whatever you want because­ he surely can get rid of you as quick as he wish!!! Be­ focused because we need you for the falling apart Real­ this year. And Thx For what You have done so­ far....
    Real's Fan

    From mehdi y, on Sat 3 Jan 11:13PM

  6. Whats going on! Real dont get their way again! HAHA­ Bout time uefa stood up to the most disrespectful team­ in the world. Always think they have a divine right to­ do as they please.

    From Andrew, on Sat 3 Jan 9:24PM
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