Chelsea lost 2-0 to Real Madrid on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge, ending their chances of advancing to the last four of the Champions League for a second consecutive season. Frank Lampard’s Chels’ gave it their best on a night when nobody was expecting them to win, but once again, their lack of ruthlessness proved to be their undoing. With two goals in the second half, Carlo Ancelotti’s team punished the hosts and advanced to the semi-finals. With nothing left to play for, the blues will have eight games in the league remaining until they, and the fans can finally forget this season occurred and sleep it off as a fever dream.
Here are 3 positives and 3 negatives from Chelsea 0-2 Real Madrid
An Improved performance
‘Super Frank’ tweaked his 3-5-2 formation he employed against Real in the first leg, at the Santiago Bernabeu. On paper, the formation the formation was a 3-6-1 or a 5-4-1 depending how you view on the wingbacks. A very compact, midfield heavy tactical battle. And to the surprise on literally everyone, considering the backlash on the lineup news, the Blues played really well.
Particularly in the first half, CFC created chances. Albeit they were mainly from the Spanish side’s mistakes, but the Blues should be kicking themselves for not at least scoring. With big chances missed from N’golo Kanté and Marc Cucurella, it was only inevitable that los Blancos would hit second gear and end the tie once and for all.
One step near end of season
With just a few league games remaining and no other cups fixtures, we can start counting days until we can forget this season has ever happen. Enough said.
Nothing to play for- Play with freedom
I’m really scraping the bottom of the barrel to find ANY other positives but at least we don’t have to worry about any other competitions now. I mean, relegation is a popular topic but if I’m being completely honest, Chelsea will be alright – hopefully.
The Negatives:
Frank Lampard’s XI selection
Don’t get me wrong, ‘tactically,’ the set up isn’t what I had a problem with. It is how the XI lacked any attacking present. Barring Kai Havertz, four midfielders were on the pitch along with five defenders. A very defensive set up it seems on paper which had the fanbase in complete meltdown in the build for the match. CFC were already down two goals coming into the match so I really don’t understand the need to have so many defensive minded players, more specially non-forwards. Felix, Mudryk, Pulisic, Sterling, Ziyech, and Mount were all on the bench whilst needing to score goals to advance.
Attacking scenario drills
Sometimes I forget that I’m watching a professional club with professional footballers who live and breathe this sport, gets paid millions upon millions and still can’t do the fundamentals. The shooting I’ve seen today was abysmal and that’s been a reoccurring situation for some time. In fact, I’d say we’ve had this problem for almost at least a decade because we haven’t had an out-and-out striker since Diego Costa.
But at the same time, you don’t need to be a striker to have a decent shot on you. This is an aspect that definitely needs to be concentrated on during pre-season along with final balls because that was horrific. Remember that moment where Joao Felix dribbled past his man and completely ignored a through ball opportunity that would make Havertz through on goal, and what does he go and do instead? Give away possession cheaply.
No Chelsea Champions League appearance next season
After four consecutive UCL qualifications in a row, the Blues are set to miss the 2023/24 edition of the Champions League. Not only that, it is becoming growingly impossible to make ANY of the other available UEFA European spots.