Chelsea vs Real Madrid: Chelsea‘s woes continued with a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. With their victory, Real Madrid has sealed a spot in the Champions League semifinals for the defending champions by a final aggregate score of 4-0.
So far, since Frank Lampard returned as interim manager, Chelsea has lost four games in a row, the first time since 1993.
The match’s first half looked similar to Madrid’s 2-0 win in the first leg of the quarterfinal tie as Chelsea initially came out strong. However, Madrid settled into the game and was largely in control up to half-time.
Marc Cucurella had an opportunity to score in the first half, but Thibaut Courtois blocked his close-range strike after the Spaniard was left all alone at the far post and the teams went into the break at 0-0 draw.
“It isn’t easy to get to the semifinals or a final. In the last three years we’ve got to a lot of them,” Courtois said following the win. “Obviously when you play a semifinal and lose, like against [Chelsea] three years ago, you don’t celebrate it.
“We’re happy to get to a semifinal, which isn’t easy, but once you’re there, if you lose, it doesn’t feel like much.Our target is to go through and win.”
Chelsea’s confidence began to crumble when Real Madrid’s Rodrygo scored and it was sealed when about 20 minutes later, the Brazilian doubled the lead.
“I don’t know how to explain it. I always say it’s a very special competition for me, every time I play I can help the team. I’m happy and I hope to carry on like that, scoring more goals, providing more assists and winning the Champions League again,” Rodrygo said after the match.
“It’s a pleasure to be here at Real Madrid, the biggest team in the world. We know we have almost the obligation to get to semifinals and finals and to win the Champions League. Since I arrived we’ve had that in our heads, we have to go far, we have to play well, and that’s what we’ve done since I’ve been here: we’ve gone far in this competition,” Rodrygo added.
Despite spending £500 million pounds ($621 million) on new players, Chelsea’s season will end trophy-less under their new American owners.
The Blues have been the center of trolls on social media with many fans calling for a major overhaul in the club.
On the other side, 14-time European champions Madrid is still on the march with Ancelotti and eyeing to win the trophy for a fifth time (likely face Manchester City in the semifinals) despite having Eder Militao out of the first leg of the semifinals due to an accumulation of yellow card.
“We knew you have to suffer in this kind of game,” Ancelotti said. “They gave everything In the first half they caused us problems especially on the left, we fixed that in the second half. It’s normal to suffer, we had a good level, solid at the back. A good game, a deserved win, we’re very happy.”
“A bit worried, going down to 10 men would have been difficult, but after that he had a spectacular game at the back. He’ll miss the first leg of the semifinal, but let’s hope we’ll have [David] Alaba back,” Ancelotti said about Eder Militao.