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Under-fire Zinedine Zidane takes the blame as Real Madrid suffer humiliating cup defeat to rival minnows

European champions lose 2-1 in second leg as tie finishes 2-2 on aggregate with their modest city neighbours going through on away goals

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Leganes’ players celebrate a famous victory over Real Madrid during the King’s Cup quarter-final second leg. Photo: EPA
Agence France-Presse
Real Madrid crashed to a humiliating Copa del Rey exit on Wednesday when they were knocked out by little Leganes in the quarter-finals with under-fire coach Zinedine Zidane taking the blame.

European champions Real lost 2-1 in the second leg at their Bernabeu home as the tie finished 2-2 on aggregate with their modest city neighbours going through on away goals despite having lost the first leg 1-0 last week.

“I am responsible for all of this. It’s a failure for me,” said Zidane who recently penned a contract extension until 2020.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane took full responsibility for the loss. Photo: AFP
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane took full responsibility for the loss. Photo: AFP
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Admitting that it had been his worst night as a coach, the Frenchman added: “It’s a logical result, our opponents played their match and we did not.

“It is a big blow. We did what we had to do in the first leg. Nobody expected this, especially me but this is football.

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“I am the manager. I picked the team and I was wrong in many regards. It’s up to me to find the solutions. I will continue to fight, to work, to battle and to find the things the team needs.”

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