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Sheriff Tiraspol coach Vernydub has gone home to fight for Ukraine: BBC

PARIS: Sheriff Tiraspol coach Yuriy Vernydub pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history by beating Real Madrid - months later he is shouldering arms in defence of his native Ukraine against the Russian invasion.

"Cuando le ganamos al Real Madrid no podía imaginar esto"

El 28 de septiembre, Yuriy Vernydub saltaba en la banda del Santiago Bernabéu. Celebraba un trallazo tremendo de Thill que, en el 88', convirtió el Santiago Bernabéu en la fiesta del Sheriff.. Casi seis meses después, el jueves 24 de febrero, Vernydub se preparaba en Braga para defender la renta de la ida y seguir vivos en la Europa League. Quedaron terceros en la máxima competición continental y el premio fue su hermana menor. El Sporting remontaría y el Sheriff pondría fin a su aventura europea. Pero ese no fue el evento que marcó el día de Vernydub, sino una llamada telefónica.

Yuriy Vernydub: Sheriff Tiraspol manager 'not afraid' as he leaves Europa League side to fight in Ukraine

Six months ago Yuriy Vernydub was celebrating wildly at the Bernabeu. His Sheriff Tiraspol team had just produced one of the great Champions League shocks, beating Real Madrid 2-1.It was a seismic result for the Moldovan league winners, who come from Transnistria, a breakaway republic under heavy Russian influence. A triumph against the 13-time European champions was barely believable for a side who came through four rounds of qualifying to reach the group stage and did so on an annual budget of around £5m.