Real Madrid had their cake volunteering to hose the 2010 UEFA Champions League finals at the Bernabeu in Madrid after club president Florentino Perez's £240 million galacticos spending spree on players over the summer like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, and Xabi Alonso. There would be no waiting game because the goal was simple, win the Champions League now.Now Real can eat their cake too, after the Kings of Lyon knocked Madrid out of the champions league in the round of 16 for the sixth consecutive season thanks in large part to Miralem Pjanic's 75th goal last night that gave Lyon the 2-1 win on aggregate and would have been enough thanks to the Away-Goal Rule even if Madrid had scored another goal later in the evening.
Blame who you want, coach Manuel Pellegrini who subbed off Kaka in the second half for Raul. Perhaps Kaka himself for living up to his 75-million Euro buy over the summer, and missed an early chance in the game firing a shot directly into the keeper with only the keeper to beat. 
Perhaps front line strike Gonzalo Higuain, who also had an easy chance to score after beating the defense knocking the ball by the keeper and passing the ball towards net only to be denied by the woodwork. Perhaps president Perez himself for failing to address Madrid's real short-comings in the offseason, their defensive deficiencies. There's plenty to go around in the blame game.
Perhaps front line strike Gonzalo Higuain, who also had an easy chance to score after beating the defense knocking the ball by the keeper and passing the ball towards net only to be denied by the woodwork. Perhaps president Perez himself for failing to address Madrid's real short-comings in the offseason, their defensive deficiencies. There's plenty to go around in the blame game.But remember this fun little fact, since Vincente Del Bosque was axed in 2003 after Madrid failed to make it past the semifinals, nine coaches have played musical chairs with Real's head coaching position. Add that headache to the fact that reigning UCL champions Barcelona are still the heavy favorites to repeat and you have the best headline of the day - The Nightmare has become Real.
I can tell you this much I'm reveling in Real's dysfunction as my boys in England - Arsenal and Manchester United - combined to beat their opponents 9-0 this week. I can only hope too that my favorite team in Spain - Barcelona - can get to the finals so that their fans invade the Bernabeu and toss a little more salt on the open wound.
REAL MADRID YOUR NEW BOZOS OF THE WEEK!
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