Real Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka has denied that players were ordered to receive bookings so that they would be guaranteed to play in the semi-finals should the club reach them.

There were strong rumours that Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos picked up yellow cards against Galatasaray in Real's 3-0 first-leg win so that they would be suspended for the second leg and not the next stage of the tournament.

However, Karanka said that there were no such instructions and that the players picked up the cards of their own accord.

"There is no controversy, the four yellow cards we received were all very similar," Karanka told reporters.

Michael Essien and Luka Modric were also booked, but they will not serve suspensions.

Written by
Matt Domm