THE Champions League anthem did not play in Stamford Bridge before Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid.
The two sets of players lined up as usual for the iconic pre-match tradition ahead of the quarter-final second leg.
But fans in the stadium were left confused when the famous tune did not play over the tannoy.
The players still had the TV camera pan across in front of them and Real captain Karim Benzema duly led his team into a round of applause when it should have finished.
Chelsea supporters, though, were fuming they did not get the chance to hear the song – just an hour after blasting Frank Lampard’s starting XI for the quarter-final second leg.
One said: “This is our last Champions League game in years and we don’t even get to hear to the anthem.”
Another joked: “No CL anthem played, Chelsea getting prepared for next year it seems.”
A third said: “No Champions League anthem at the Stamford Bridge… it’s like they know they wont ever hear it again.”
A fourth quipped: “No Champions League anthem? Yeah they are forfeiting themselves out of this competition.”
But one wannabe detective reckons he knows the real reason behind the lack of music against 14-time winners and holders Los Blancos.
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He jokingly explained: “No Champions League anthem so Madrid players think it’s another night in LaLiga unreal tactics from the Chelsea scum.”
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Unfortunately for Chelsea, if that was the tactic, it didn’t work as they lost 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate.
The Blues blunder comes just three days after another Stamford Bridge stadium error.
Against Brighton, the graphic on the big screen announced Cody Gakpo as a substitute for the Seagulls.
Except Gakpo is Liverpool’s No18 – and the man coming on was Brighton’s No18 Danny Welbeck.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
