Real Madrid end toothless Chelsea's season after myriad missed chances
By Matt Law, Football News Correspondent at Stamford Bridge
This was not a performance that would have embarrassed Todd Boehly, but the result ended any hope of a Hollywood ending to his first season as Chelsea co-owner and meant the American billionaire can no longer look forward to Champions League nights at Stamford Bridge next term.
Boehly watched from his box as Chelsea once again missed a host of good chances and then conceded two second-half goals, scored by Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, that pretty much ended the Blues’ season and secured the holders’ place in the semi-finals.
At least Chelsea went out of this competition with some dignity, but, in the bottom half of the Premier League table, the club can now look forward to fighting for a top-half finish and not much more over their remaining games.
Boehly and his co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, on the advice of co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, replaced Graham Potter with Frank Lampard to try to save Chelsea’s season but this was his fourth straight defeat as caretaker head coach.
Lampard, of course, cannot shoulder the blame for the way Chelsea’s season has unravelled and the pressure on Boehly and Eghbali to get the appointment of the club’s next permanent head coach right is now even greater.
The owners and sporting directors must also give serious consideration to which players of Chelsea’s bloated squad they will attempt to move on, with the club needing to sell players as quickly as possible to help balance the books with no Champions League income to look forward to next season.
The way in which Stamford Bridge emptied after Rodrygo walked in his and Real’s second goal with 10 minutes remaining should act as a warning that Chelsea fans will vote with their feet if things do not quickly improve.
There were a smattering of boos at the full-time whistle, but thousands of supporters had already made an early dash for the tube by that point and it was left to the Real players to celebrate on the Stamford Bridge pitch in front of their delighted fans.
The size of the task facing Lampard and his Chelsea players ahead of kick-off was summed up by the fact that, ahead of this second leg, Real had progressed from 18 of the 19 Champions League ties in which they had won the first leg by two or more goals. Now make it 19 from 20.
With Chelsea needing to score at least twice, Lampard surprisingly only started with one attacker on the pitch as Kai Havertz led the line and Joao Felix, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Christian Pulisic all had to settle for places on the substitutes’ bench.
Lampard deployed Conor Gallagher and N’Golo Kanté as two advanced midfielders behind Havertz to try to win the ball back high up the pitch, and the move worked for the opening 20 minutes.
Kanté wasted a glorious opportunity to give the home side an 11th minute lead, when a Reece James cross was not properly cleared and dropped straight to his feet inside the area. But the Frenchman fired wide and Lampard raised his hands to his head in disbelief on the touchline. That was to become a familiar pose during another frustrating evening.
James controlled a Havertz cross with his arm in the Real penalty area, before the Spaniards finally offered a threat of their own in the 20th minute, when Rodrygo struck the outside of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s left-hand post from a tight angle.
Rodrygo produced a lovely piece of skill to create the space to find Vinicius Junior on the left with a short pass and the Brazilian fired a powerful shot straight at Kepa.
Thibaut Courtois had received anything but a warm welcome back to Stamford Bridge, but the former Chelsea goalkeeper produced a huge save on the stroke of half-time to stop the Blues going in at the break ahead.
James found the ball in space on the right and picked out Marc Cucurella unmarked at the back post. The defender seemed certain to score, but Courtois spread his giant frame brilliantly to save the effort.
The Real players raced to congratulate Courtois, who could not stifle a smile as the Chelsea fans continued to chant obscenities at him as he left the pitch for half-time.
Just as be could not believe Cucurella had not scored just before the break, Lampard was left dumbfounded that Chelsea squandered another opportunity seven minutes after the restart, when Gallagher managed to win a header that dropped at the feet of Kante but his shot was deflected out for a corner.
Just a couple of minutes later, Lampard and his staff were angered by the fact Eder Militao was not shown a second yellow card for a foul on Trevoh Chalobah that earned Chelsea a free-kick. Ashley Cole was so incensed by the officiating that he was warned by the fourth official that he could be sent to the stands and the ex-left-back had to be calmed down by Joe Edwards.
Any hope of a miraculous comeback was killed just before the hour mark, when Chelsea were caught out at the back. A ball out of the Real defence left Chalobah trying to catch Rodrygo on the right. He dived in and the Real forward raced away before producing a pass across the penalty area that was intended for Karim Benzema but found Vinicius. Rodrygo moved his way into the middle and Vinicius passed the ball back for him to stroke into the net.
Rodrygo hits Chelsea with the sucker punch goal! 🥊
Real Madrid ride plenty of pressure from the home side and bury a chance of their own down the other end! 🔥#UCL pic.twitter.com/SuVCN2EGtv— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 18, 2023
Lampard responded by making a treble substitution with Felix, Mudryk and Sterling replacing Gallagher, Cucurella and Enzo Fernández. He later sent on Mason Mount, but Rodrygo walked in a late second goal and a large section of the Chelsea fans walked out of Stamford Bridge. They will not care that they did not see Mudryk waste a late opportunity.
Chelsea 0 Real Madrid 2: as it happened
10:32 PM
More Lampard
Playing for pride? They're playing for Chelsea. I've been here two weeks and I'm hungry. I won't let anyone off the hook, they have to show. And for 60 minutes, playing a world-class team, we were the better team, creating chances. I won't let that standard drop. That's the one message we take from this.
10:29 PM
Frank Lampard speaks
We played really well for 60 minutes. And maybe it's normal after the goal how the game pans out after we make changes to go for it. But for 60 minutes it was really good. Really good chances at this level, you have to take them. You don't want to praise defeat too much but where we've been this season, where we are and where we've got to work towards.
It's clear isn't it [the lack of goals is killing them]. And it's not for the lack of trying. We got loads of bodies in the box, crosses, good positions. I'll never criticise the lads for that [not taking chances] but if the tie goes 2-1 at any point you would have felt the crowd turn.
We were really giving them problems down the side of the pitch. It's the first game since I've been back where I felt we really implemented [the good elements of our game].
10:16 PM
Opta's post-match stats package
Chelsea have lost four consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time since a run of six in October/November 1993.
Real Madrid are the first team to win multiple Champions League away games against Chelsea, following their victory at Stamford Bridge in last season's quarter-final.
Chelsea have failed to score in 18 different matches in all competitions this season, their most in a single campaign since 1980-81 (21).
This was Chelsea's second biggest aggregate margin of defeat in a Champions League knockout tie (0-4), after losing 7-1 over two legs against Bayern Munich in the 2019-20 round of 16.
With 10 goals and 11 assists (including setting up Rodrygo's opener tonight), Vinícius Júnior has been involved in 21 goals in his last 21 UEFA Champions League appearances for Real Madrid.
10:12 PM
A photo that captures contrasting emotions when Rodrygo scored his first
10:09 PM
Conor Gallagher interview
I feel like we played well. We had more and better chances than they did. Football is all about taking your chances and we couldn't do that today. We haven't got that [cutting edge] at the minute. We're gutted. But you've got to score to win. There's a lot of improvement in our football today and the fans can take that away. We want to win as many games as we can, take it game by game. There's always something to chase.
10:05 PM
And the coup de grace
Rodrygo does it again!! 🤩
If Vini or Benzema don't get you... this man will!! 🔥#UCL pic.twitter.com/ryTmcI7kE8— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 18, 2023
10:04 PM
Rodrygo's double in motion part one
Rodrygo hits Chelsea with the sucker punch goal! 🥊
Real Madrid ride plenty of pressure from the home side and bury a chance of their own down the other end! 🔥#UCL pic.twitter.com/SuVCN2EGtv— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 18, 2023
10:00 PM
Real Madrid will play Man City or Bayern Munich
In the semi-final on 9/10 and 16/17 May.
09:54 PM
Full time: Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 2 (4)
Chelsea lose their fourth match in succession, their worst run since 1993. And it's four defeats from four for Frank Lampard in his second stint in the manager's chair. They're just not a team. Good players, no coherence and no strategy. As for the board? Hubris, pure and simple. Real Madrid just picked them off in both legs like a team that knows what they're doing.
09:51 PM
90 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 2 (4)
Steve McManaman is laying into the way Chelsea have been run this season and saves his most acute vitriol for 'destroying the academy by buying young players to sit above the academy'. He's right.
09:49 PM
88 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 2 (4)
Vinicius is put through the middle by Asensio's reverse pass but Kepa saves from 18 yards. Up goes the flag. Less than 30 seconds later Mudryk races through from 35 yards, darts into the box and then hooks his shot hideously wide into the hoardings. There was no one in front of him but he, too, was reprieved by a late offside flag.
09:47 PM
86 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 2 (4)
Mudryk fouls Nacho who is happy to take his time getting up.
09:45 PM
83 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 2 (4)
Nacho ⇢ Carvajal
Marco Asensio ⇢ Rodrygo.
Time to go for many at the Bridge.
09:39 PM
GOAL!
Chelsea 0 Real Madrid 2 (Rodrygo) Glorious footwork from Valverde, taking the pass from Vinicius racing down the left. Valverde controls it by the left of the D, soft-shoe shuffles past Thiago Silva, draws Kepa and then slips it to his right to Rodrygo to blast into an empty goal from two yards. Steve McManaman, I'm sure, said it was a goal 'made in South Africa' rather than South America.
09:37 PM
78 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 1 (3)
Mount ⇢ Havertz.
09:36 PM
77 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 1 (3)
Decent work from Mudryk at both ends, the first to keep pace with Vinicius and stop him getting a shot off and then, moments later, up the other end when he has two lovely touches to bring the ball down and set up a shot ... which he then balloons over.
09:35 PM
75 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 1 (3)
Joao Felix makes a good run up the left, the ball under immaculate control, diddles Eder Militao with a nutmeg and has Havertz running forward to the left and Sterling to the right. The easier pass would be to Havertz, cocking his right ankle round to the right but instead he tries to knock it through Camavinga who picks it off.
09:32 PM
Sam Wallace reports from Stamford Bridge
Ashley Cole has been told by the Italian fourth official to sit down and stop protesting or - and it very much seemed this way from the response of his colleagues - he'd be off elsewhere. He wanted a second yellow for Eder Militao. Moments later Chelsea are one behind on the night, 3-0 on aggregate, and it all seems over for Lampard's players.
09:32 PM
72 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 1 (3)
Tchouameni ⇢ Benzema. The Real Madrid captain and current Ballon d'Or is mightily peeved.
09:31 PM
71 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 1 (3)
Havertz is told to get up when he goes down in the box and the crowd screams for a penalty. He clipped his foot against the defender's but he instigated the contact and it was barely discernible. VAR has a look and takes a second to dismiss Chelsea's claims.
09:29 PM
69 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 1 (3)
Chelsea attack with urgency and Sterling on the right picks out James 20 yards out and he lets fly. Eder Militao blocks it and Chelsea's corner comes to naught.
09:28 PM
67 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 1 (3)
Mudryk ⇢ Cucurella
Sterling ⇢ Gallagher
Joao Felix ⇢ Fernandez
09:25 PM
64 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 1 (3)
Courtois saves Fernandez's dipping left-foot half-volley from 18 yards after Cucurella won a back post header and Chelsea's record signing bundled Gallagher out of the way.
09:23 PM
62 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 1 (3)
Chelsea are readying three substitutes.
09:18 PM
GOAL!
Chelsea 0 Real Madrid 1 (Rodrygo) Chalobah makes a dreadful decision to slide in and try to tackle Rodrygo who was sent down the right by Militao's diagonal. When players go for glory like that and don't stay on their feet or take the booking by chopping him down it's what pros emotively call 'cheating'. Rodrygo hares to the byline and pings a cross intended for Benzema but he slides too early and the ball goes behind him to Vinicius who squares it back to Rodrygo, who had continued his run. Rodrygo thumps in the opener from five yards. The camera pans to Todd Boehly who looks as if he's been kebabbed.
09:17 PM
58 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Kroos gives away a free-kick for sliding in recklessly on Kovacic. Chelsea work it to Havertz by the right of the D and he fires his low shot straight at Courtois who didn't have to move.
09:16 PM
56 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Fernandez sees a gap from 25 yards after Benzema's defensive clearance but threads his daisycutter wide of the left post.
09:15 PM
55 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Lampard and his players want a second yellow for Eder Militao brushing into Chalobah who was striding up the left. It was a foul but not a booking. James takes the free-kick and puts it on to Benzema's head.
09:14 PM
53 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Kante has another bite at scoring as Real Madrid doze off. James' cross is allowed to bounce, Gallagher knocks it back to the centre of goal about six yards out and Kante swivels on to a volley. Eder Militao, the only alert player in white, throws himself in to block the shot.
09:11 PM
51 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Horrible foul from James on Camavinga, catching him late on the ankle with his studs after Camavinga had turned and hooked the ball on. Yellow card. Not deliberate – Camavinga was too quick – but nasty all the same.
09:10 PM
49 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Forgive me. Rudiger replaced Alaba.
09:09 PM
48 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
The free-kick brings a corner that Chelsea defend competently ... until Kovacic fouls Kroos 40 yards from goal.
09:08 PM
47 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Vinicius is given a free-kick for a barely perceivable foul by Fofana. Rudiger has replaced Eder Militao.
09:06 PM
46 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
BT Sport has three of Frank Lampard's friends, two of them from childhood in Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole, in the punditry box. You will not be surprised to learn that they think he has got his tactics spot on but will have to time perfectly when to switch to more attacking mode.
08:58 PM
Sam Wallace's half-time verdict
A decent first-half performance for Chelsea and there have been chances for them. None better than the Marc Cucurella opening in the first minute of time added on at the end of the half. Moments such as those that Real bought Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea. That said, Lampard's side have played much better than against Brighton on Saturday. They just can't score which has been a familiar problem. Real have had their moments in the game too but it has been uncomfortable for them at times.
08:52 PM
Half-time Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Real Madrid haven't left third gear but have seemed largely unperturbed. Chelsea haven't really found their fluency but the game has had three very good chances, two to Chelsea – to Kante and Cucurella – and one to Real, to Vinicius. All have made a mess of them. But what a fillip Cucurella's would have been right on the threshold of half-time.
08:49 PM
45+2 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Another big chance for Chelsea as Fernandez sticks James down the right and he fizzes over a low cross that finds its way to the back post as Kante stretched but couldn't reach it. But no bother. Cucurella is there ... but he hesitates. Takes a touch and buys enough time for Courtois to fling himself in front of the shit when he eventually seizes the initiative and lets fly, two seconds too late. What a waste.
08:46 PM
45 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Valverde breaks and Real Madrid bomb forward but he chooses the wrong cross from the right, looping it deep and Benzema has to curb his instinct to attack the keeper and go too wide to retrieve it. He is good enough to get there but stabs his volley into the side-netting.
Two minutes of stoppage time to come.
08:44 PM
43 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Kroos pings a pass to Modric that sends him round Cucurella and he absolutely larrups a cross through the penalty area. Fofana dozes off and lets Vinicius steal a march but he opens his body too much and turns a left-foot shot wide.
08:42 PM
41 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Kante tries to round Camavinga by the right byline but his France team-mate is firm in the block-tackle and all Chelsea have for a slick move is a corner. Chelsea whip the corner to the near post. Haveetz flicks it on loopily with the nape of his neck and Courtois picks it off Gallagher's head at the back post
08:40 PM
39 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
James seems to have a problem with his hamstring but is carrying on for now and, small mercies, isn't limping.
08:39 PM
38 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
James goes on a good run down the right and he plays a one two with Kante to go beyond Camavinga to smash a cross that Alaba throws himself at to block at the near post.
08:37 PM
36 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Yellow card for Cucurella after pulling Rodrygo back. Had he let him go he would have had 45 yards of untenanted field between himself and Kepa.
08:36 PM
35 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Kepa is forced into a save and bats Modric's shot behind. The Croatia captain had ghosted into space on the right of the box but the angle was tight and he couldn't squeeze it past the keeper. One of those 'he connected too well'. Had he scuffed it he may have found a way past.
08:33 PM
33 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Gallagher heads over from 10 yards. The pull-back from Cucurella was too high to meet with the full meat of his forehead and in any case Havertz's flick-on had played Cucurella offside.
08:32 PM
31 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Chelsea manage to populate the Real Madrid box. Three blue shirts pile in to wait for Cucurella's cross but the pricey left-back's cross clears them all.
08:31 PM
29 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Real Madrid work the free-kick between Rodrygo and Benzema to feed Vinicius pelting in from the left. he picks his head up when he enters the box and mullers a palm-stinging shot straight at Azpilicueta who was guarding his near post.
08:29 PM
27 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Real Madrid free-kick after Thiago Silva bulldozes Benzema. Forty yards out.
08:28 PM
26 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Gallagher clips another long pass into the box. Camavinga dummies to head it then bows in front of the ball to let it bounce behind him for a goal-kick. Fernandez yells at James for not getting into the box.
08:25 PM
24 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Eder Militao has twisted his right ankle but eventually recovers to carry on. Courtois' every touch continues to be booed.
08:24 PM
23 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Yellow card for Eder Militao for a needless foul on Havertz, booting the sole of his foot. Fernandez takes the free-kick on the left, parallel with the 18-yard line and doesn't beat the first man. Poor delivery.
08:23 PM
21 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Rodrygo drives a right-foot riser into the post about two-thirds of the way up after a neat triangle between him, Modric and Carvajal. The right-back squares it on the run and Rodrygo thumps his effort from the right of the box through Chalobah's legs and on to the woodwork.
08:21 PM
18 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Thiago Silva, who had stayed up for a corner that Chelsea had wasted, stands on the right of the D to head on a long chip upfield that just eludes Havertz. Benzema might have had a hat-trick already had he been in blue.
08:19 PM
16 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
The problem with this selection is that when Havertz goes down the inside-forward channels, it's Kante in the middle and among his many qualities isn't gold-standard finishing or even some compensatory height to make himself a nuisance.
08:17 PM
14 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
James is penalised for a handball after Chalobah had rolled Haveetz in down the inside left. He took it to the byline and stood up a cross that was juts too high for Kante but it skipped on to James who was judged to have trapped it with his right biceps. Not sure he did. Looked like his chest to me.
08:13 PM
12 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Big chance for Kante on the half-volley to the right of he penalty spot. Fernandez had played a fine 60-yard diagonal out to James pushed high on the right and he worked his cross over that was turned into Kante's stride but he hooked his effort horribly wide
08:12 PM
10 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Bad error from Modric, underhitting a pass intended for Kroos. Gallagher latches on to it 25 yards out and tries to slip in Havertz but passes it straight to Carvajal who had tacked into the box to block the pass.
08:10 PM
8 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Benzema's foot is trodden on as he goes up for a header or rather when he lands and he winces. Courtois is given the Stamford Bridge bird.
Militao arcs a diagonal out to Vinicius on the left, he cuts inside and leaves James chasing shadows but then he pumps his cross over the box and out for a foal-kick. Too much leather.
08:08 PM
5 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Dainty footwork from Valverde in the old left-half position but his raking pass up the left is cut out by Chalobah. For the first time Vinicius has a chance to accelerate from a standing start but Fofana is out by the touchline and denies him the space to pile forward.
08:05 PM
3 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Carvajal, who always makes a mountain out of a molehill, rolls around after kicking the bottom of Havertz's foot to earn a throw-in. It probably hurt but not that much. Real stroke the ball around inside their own half but Camavinga almost leaves his back pas short enough for Havertz to pounce on 18 yards but Courtois is out to smash it clear.
08:02 PM
1 min Chelsea 0 (0) Real Madrid 0 (2)
Ancelotti and Lampard, wearing pundit trainers, embrace before kick-off. And then Gallagher kicks off, rolling it back to Thiago Silva who chips a long diagonal up the left and Real Madrid see it out for a throw-in.
08:00 PM
Kovacic and Modric
Not only shake hands but they exchange kisses, too. Former team-mates and Real Madrid and enduring ones for Croatia.
07:59 PM
The teams are in the tunnel
The Liquidator fades out so they can play the Champions League anthem when they come out. Real Madrid are wearing black socks because of Chelsea's white. Very odd combo that: white/white/black. Not sure why it looks so unusual. They wore it here last year after all but going light/light/dark is uncommon. England rugby, obviously. But in football?
07:53 PM
It is quite at Stamford Bridge as Sam says
Here's Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for a stark contrast:
The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona awaits Milan. All Italian Champions League quarter final coming up on BT Sport. pic.twitter.com/iYCsmF05uw
— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) April 18, 2023
07:51 PM
Sam Wallace reports from Stamford Bridge
Frank Lampard's team only includes one conventionally attacking player: Kai Havertz. The rest of it looks like a team set up to try to stop Real scoring and then wait for a chance. Trevoh Chalobah retains his place after a difficult afternoon on Saturday against Kaoru Mitoma in the defeat by Brighton. It's quiet at Stamford Bridge. Doesn't feel yet like the second leg of a Champions League quarter-final. There was a bit of a hostile reception for the Real team bus but becalmed inside the stadium.
07:47 PM
Pep talk
Ashley Cole has Chelsea's three centre-backs and two wing-backs in a circle around him and is thumping his fist into his palm and talking very animatedly and loudly. Genuine passion and an exhortation to concentrate to finish.
07:37 PM
Another look at that Chelsea formation
BT Sport reckons 3-4-2-1 with Gallagher and Kante tucked in behind Havertz. Given Potter's exclusion of a frankly derelict-looking Aubameyang and Broja's injury, it was a straight choice between Havertz and either Sterling or Felix.
07:23 PM
A word from 'Don Carlo' as he seems to be known by the UK media
I like returning to the clubs I was at. I have a good memory here. It was really nice. Everyone is surprised by Chelsea's position. They have all the potential to be back at the top again. it will be hard to replicate the Abramovich era but they have the potential.
We are here to try to play our best. Last year this was our most difficult game in the Champions League so we don't want to think about the first leg.
07:10 PM
Frank Lampard speaks to BT Sport, his once (and future?) employer
This two week period has been challenging [in terms of finding time to coach on the training pitch]. You do everything you can with preparation and meetings, those things you try to push. It's a reality of where we're at. The simple thing is to be clear and not over-complicate it. And for the layers to implement it with the passion these nights demand.
You have to respect the opponent and I have to pick players who are in good nick, good shape. Starting with wing-backs last week I don't think it was an area we used enough. With this system you must get possession of the ball and get your wing-backs high up the pitch. We have the legs and energy in there to do that [in this selection].
You can't wait for a magic want and tell players to score more goals. It's about being more clinical. We have to stay in the game, not be crazy and keep a clean sheet. Then we have impact players to come into the game. It's something it's ours to change, not scoring enough goals. Can we be effective?
06:49 PM
And for those of you watching in black and white
Chelsea Arrizabalaga; Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Wesley Fofana: James, Kante, Fernandez, Kovacic, Cucurella; Gallagher; Havertz.
Substitutes Mendy, Azpilicueta, Hall, Zakaria, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Joao Felix, Mudryk, Sterling, Mount, Chukwuemeka.
Real Madrid Courtois; Carvajal, Eder Militao, Alaba, Camavinga; Valverde, Kroos, Modric; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Junior.
Substitutes Lunin, Vallejo, Nacho, Hazard, Asensio, Odriozola, Lucas, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Rudiger, Mariano, Lopez.
Referee Daniele Orsato (Italy)
06:41 PM
What formation is that?
Looks like a 3-5-1-1? Or has Frank Lampard gone for two false nines?
06:39 PM
Chelsea stick to three at the back
Your Chelsea tonight! 🔵#UCL pic.twitter.com/juGCudNkZS
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 18, 2023
06:17 PM
Real Madrid unchanged
Some consider it disrespectful to name the team so early. Marcelo Bielsa wanted to announce his at his Friday press conference but was told other managers would consider it insultingly arrogant. Lord knows why. Carlo likes to go early, too:
📋✅ ¡Nuestro 𝗫𝗜 inicial!
🆚 @ChelseaFC_sp#UCL pic.twitter.com/90LMvIdRsO— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 18, 2023
Chelsea's will be along in about 25 minutes if last week is a guide.
06:12 PM
Preview: Wanted – a distinctive identity and sense of common purpose
Good evening and welcome to live coverage of the second leg of Chelsea's Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid, which they start 2-0 down. It's only two years ago that Chelsea conjured up a 2-0 home victory over Real in the 2021 semi-final to put them on the path to winning their second European Cup but they are in far worse shape now than then and their defence, denuded of Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Jorginho screening in front of them, looks too flimsy to hold out against Messrs Benzema, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo while their toothlessness resembles Les Dawson's Nona.
Still, Real Madrid, having fired the first shots in a peculiar, phoney 'No, you are' war with Barcelona over a fascist dictator's football proclivities, were very vulnerable to Chelsea's counter-attacks early in the first leg and more poise from Raheem Sterling and more pace and precision from Joao Felix would have rewarded their forays with a goal. It is unlikely that they will leave their defence so exposed with too many players committed forward for set-pieces in London but Liverpool did show in the first 15 minutes of the Round of 16 match at Anfield before capitulating so dramatically that you can rattle their back four with bite in the press and speed down the channels.
Whether the dressing-room visit of those venerable customers of Harry Enfield's Notting Hill boutique, I Saw You Coming, namely Chelsea's owners after their defeat by Brighton, will have done the trick and injected a modicum of fighting defiance into a group of players patently desperate for both direction and coherence, I'm not so sure. Players are motivated by myriad things, collective pride, personal ambition, an authentic connection with the club and its fans, 'a ton of cash, an amusing clock and a sack of French porn' ... but by the urging of billionaires who have been there for less than a year? Stranger things have happened but a team so bereft of a distinctive identity and sense of common purpose seldom suddenly finds them and clicks.
Vinicius Junior and Toni Kroos were rested for Real Madrid's 2-0 victory over Cadiz on Saturday while Luka Modric, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga started on the bench. All should return tonight in what ought to be an unchanged XI from the one Carlo Ancelotti sent out at the Bernabéu.
Thiago Silva and N'Golo Kanté missed the Brighton match but are certain picks for Frank Lampard who will have to turn to Marc Cucurella at left-back following Ben Chilwell's red card in Madrid.Kalidou Koulibaly is injured, Lampard reported concerns but has not ruled out Kai Havertz and Ruben Loftus-Cheek while the following members of Chelsea's first-team squad/ cast of the Longest Day, are not registered for Uefa club competition: Benoît Badiashile, Noni Madueke, David Fofana and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Join us for team news from 6.40ish.
