After the bankruptcy against Real, Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel was very irritated. “It was probably the worst first half since we’ve been at Chelsea,” he said after Wednesday night’s defeat.
Thomas Tuchel reacted noticeably annoyed to the surprisingly clear defeat of Chelsea against Real Madrid and sees only few chances for his team. “No. Not at the moment, no,” said the 48-year-old after the defending champion’s 1: 3 (1: 2) in the first leg of the quarter-finals when asked whether the deficit can still be made up: “Because we have to find our level again, I don’t know where it has been since the international break.”
The “Blues” had already suffered a clear 4-1 home defeat in the league on Saturday, but now, after some blatant mistakes, they had to accept three goals from the outstanding Karim Benzema (21st/24th/46th) and managed through national player Kai Havertz only the interim connection (40th).
Far from their own standards
Accordingly, Tuchel expressed his doubts about the chances. “If things change, maybe,” said the team manager. “But how many clubs in world football could do that, three goals difference? How often does that happen?” The first half was far from their own standards. The second leg for the semi-finals will rise next Tuesday.
In this condition, Chelsea is neither competitive in the Champions League nor in the domestic league. “If we continue like this,” said Tuchel, the Blues would “lose at FC Southampton on Saturday and then get beaten up at the Bernabeu”.