Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli said it would take him a while to digest the 2-0 defeat at Leicester on Tuesday which sent his team out of the Champions League last 16 stage and threatened to unravel a season that had promised so much.

The defeat at Leicester, the first European knockout tie Sevilla have lost since 2012, means that their only realistic objective this season is to finish in the top three.

“I see myself lying hurt in bed feeling like a dream has gone,” Sampaoli said.

“We were on top of our opponents the whole time, they sat back and we kept on probing but unfortunately we couldn’t score.”

Brazilian club sign convicted killer

The president of a Brazilian club that signed a goalkeeper who was jailed for murdering his ex-girlfriend called the decision ‘courageous’, although the player could be sent back to jail at any time.

Third division champions Boa Esporte drew widespread derision with the signing of Bruno Fernandes, a former top-flight keeper who was released from jail last month.

He served seven years of a 22-year jail sentence for murdering his ex-girlfriend, who was the mother of his son, and feeding her body to dogs.

But club chief Rene Moraes said  that Boa Esporte were justified in giving the keeper a second chance.

“You have to show people that what Bruno did wasn’t correct, but that he has the right to return to society,” Moraes said.

Rostov’s pitch unplayable – RFPL

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho’s complaints about the playing surface at FC Rostov’s Olimp-2 may have fallen on deaf ears at UEFA, but not the Russian Football Premier League.

The RFPL yesterday said it had deemed the surface unplayable.

“The ban is imposed until the identified shortcomings are eliminated and the fields are brought into line with the established requirements of the regulatory documents,” a statement said.

UEFA dismissed Mourinho’s complaints about the threadbare turf prior to last week’s Europa League last-16 first-leg clash.

Moshiri gives Lukaku assurances

Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has moved to reassure fans about Romelu Lukaku’s future at the club.

Speculation that the striker will leave Goodison Park has reached a new level after he told Everton he does not want to sign the new contract on the table. But the Toffees remain keen to tie him down.

Moshiri told talkSPORT: “It’s not an issue. The club is confident with the strong relationship it has with the player and the agent.

“He has over two years left on his contract and the new, improved contract is recognition of what he’s done for the club. No one should worry, he is our player.”

Spurs hopeful on Kane ankle injury

Tottenham striker Harry Kane damaged ligaments in his right ankle in Sunday’s 6-0 FA Cup quarter-final win against Millwall but the injury is not as bad as first feared.

Kane hobbled off early at White Hart Lane and there were initial fears that his season could be over.

He missed seven weeks earlier in the season after injuring the same ankle in a Premier League match against Sunderland.

“The injury is similar to the one suffered by the forward against Sunderland in September last year, however it is not considered to be as severe,” Spurs said.

“Harry will continue to be assessed by our medical staff while he undergoes his rehabilitation at our training centre.”

PSG lodge UEFA complain on ref

Paris Saint-Germain have written to UEFA regarding referee Deniz Aytekin’s performance during their 6-1 defeat away at Barcelona in the Champions League.

Unai Emery’s men collapsed at Camp Nou and allowed Barca to complete an unlikely comeback to advance 6-5 on aggregate but PSG believe Luis Enrique’s side were aided by a number of dubious decisions from the German ref.

PSG’s document is said to list Luis Suarez’s alleged dive for a second penalty and Javier Mascherano’s foul on Angel Di Maria – which the former later admitted to – as two of the main concerns.

A penalty not given for Mascherano’s first-half handball, Gerard Pique not receiving a second yellow card and Thomas Meunier’s foul on Neymar for Lionel Messi’s goal from the penalty spot have also been included.

Exams rule out Leverkusen teen

Bayer Leverkusen youngster Kai Havertz made his first start in the Champions League last month against Atletico Madrid but was unable to help his team in last night’s last 16, second leg against Diego Simeone’s side due to school exams.

Playmaker Havertz, 17, burst into the Leverkusen first team last October and has made eight 16 Bundesliga appearances this season, providing three assists, but the club announced that he had been left out of the trip to Atletico.

“Havertz has important exams at school,” said a squad update from the club’s Twitter account on Tuesday.

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