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      Chelsea 0 Real Madrid 2: Lampard’s strugglers show fight but lack quality as Blues dumped out by Rodrygo double

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      THERE was something about the way Rodrygo literally walked his second goal into the net, which seemed to sum up Todd Boehly’s first season as Chelsea supremo. It felt like a message of pure contempt, from the greatest club in European football to a ragtag bunch of overpriced players chucked together by an American gob artist. 
      Chelsea have been dumped out of the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      Rodrygo put Real Madrid ahead at Stamford BridgeCredit: Reuters
      The Brazilian’s goal killed off the tieCredit: Getty
      Boehly and his co-owner Behdad Eghbali has water-cannoned £600million in transfer fees, yet left four different managers without an authentic centre-forward.
      And having headed into the Chelsea dressing-room and accusing players of being ‘embarrassing’ after the weekend defeat by Brighton, the shame should lie with Chelsea’s American moneymen. 
      Frank Lampard’s four matches as interim manager have produced the club’s first four-game losing streak in 30 years. 
      And Chelsea’s season is now over six weeks prematurely. They are in the bottom half of the Premier League table, they are out of every Cup and have eight dead rubbers ahead of them. 
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      Whoever inherits Lampard’s mantle will not be competing in Europe next season – which will cause more financial headaches for owners who have spent like drunken sailors in a knocking shop. 
      Chelsea actually had a decent go at Real for 45 minutes.
      But the 14-time European champions prevailed through a smart second-half double from Rodrygo to double their first-leg lead and set up, in all probability, a second straight Champions League semi-final against Manchester City.
      In keeping with the utter chaos surrounding this club, Lampard’s team selection had something of the bingo caller about it: “On his own, lucky seven, N’Golo Kante”.
      Most read in Football
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      On paper It looked like a 3-6-1 formation designed to keep it tight until the arrival of cavalry – a bench which cost more than a quarter of a billion. 
      In practice, it was anything but cautious. Chelsea were in a manic, high-pressing, cage-rattling mode.
      The faithful were doing their best to produce an authentic old-school atmosphere, there were herberts throwing celery at police horses out on the Fulham Road and former Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois was being loudly accused of one-in-a-bed romps. 
      It was loud and boisterous and it seemed to spur on the randomly-assembled team of celebrities who make up Boehly’s Big Brother house.
      Marc Cucurella missed a big chance in the first halfCredit: Getty
      Rodrygo punished the blues wastefulnessCredit: AFP
      Chelsea moved it quickly, not allowing the European champions to settle and they ought to have been ahead early on. 
      A Reece James centre bounced off Kai Havertz and fell invitingly for Kante – who had been pushed up into something like an inside-left position – but the Frenchman scuffed his shot wide.
      Real had their moments – Rodrygo crashing a shot against the outside of the post, then Luka Modric darting through and forcing Kepa Arrizabalaga into a smart save. 
      But at least the Blues were showing the workrate, intent and belief to give it a decent go – and those qualities had been sadly lacking in Lampard’s first three matches in charge and for the vast majority of Graham Potter’s reign too. 
      The best way to unsettle a team who want to strut and swagger, is a simple refusal to let them settle. It was basic, old-fashioned English passion play and it wasn’t going badly.
      Just before the break, a low centre from James skimmed across goal the face of goal and found Marc Cucurella, six yards out and unmarked, but Courtois denied the left-back with a brilliant stop, the Belgian clearly unperturbed by his fearful ear-bashing from the Matthew Harding Stand. 
      Cucurella, in for the banned Ben Chilwell, has not settled in well here, the £62m transfer fee trousered by Brighton filed under ‘we saw you coming mile off’ – but had he buried that, it might have helped.
      At half-time, Ancelotti responded by sending on former Chelsea general Toni Rudiger in place of David Alaba in order to beef up Real’s defence. 
      It was a doff of the cap to Lampard, one of his 2010 Double-winners, a suggestion that Real knew they were in a game.  
      James soon launched a horrible challenge on Eduardo Camavinga – an ‘orange’ which received a yellow. 
      Kante squandered another decent chance, when a more natural forward player might have scored. 
      But then Eder Militao, who had already been booked, made a cynical foul on Trevoh Chalobah and somehow escaped a second caution.
      The Brazilian netted a braceCredit: Reuters
      Frank Lampard threw on his attackers in the second half to no availCredit: Getty
      Suddenly it was all going off. A heavy challenge from Toni Kroos on Mateo Kovacic had Ashley Cole lunging towards the fourth official, his fellow coach Joe Edwards grabbing the former England full-back by the throat. 
      And, then, amid the rage and the mayhem, Real decided it was time to get serious. 
      Militao pinged a pass forward to release Rodrygo, who skinned Chalobah, sprinted to the byeline and crossed low, past a couple of scrambling defenders, to pick out Vinicius Junior. 
      Vinicius squared it back to Rodrygo who tucked it away with a bedtime kiss. 
      Momentarily, Ancelotti punched the air and stuck out his chest, as animated as you’re ever likely to see the old dude in public. Courtois turned to The Shed and smirked. The Bridge fell into stunned silence.  
      Read More on The Sun
      Courtois soon saved a powerful Enzo Fernandez effort and Lampard sent on Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix – pretty much a £150m substitution, which undermines the Chelsea as plucky underdogs narrative.  
      Then that second goal, Federico Valverde strutting through and finding Rodrygo, who scored in mocking slow motion. 
      Frank Lampard has now lost all four games since returning to the clubCredit: EPA More

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      Chelsea ratings: Thiago Silva proves he is still Blues’ best defender as Gallagher struggles when goals needed vs Real

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      CHELSEA were dumped out of the Champions League and their season effectively ended at the hands of 14-time winners Real Madrid.The Blues lamented their lack of a genuine No9 once again as they got into some dangerous positions – but had no one to stick the ball in the net.
      Chelsea were dumped out of the Champions League by Real MadridCredit: Getty
      Real, though, had Rodrygo who eventually turned home on 58 minutes to effectively kill off any slim hopes of a Madrid-style comeback.
      Ten minutes from time, Los Blancos turned on the style to waltz their way through the Chelsea defence as Fede Valverde put the ball on a plate for Rodrygo to tap in.
      Here’s how SunSport’s Joshua Jones rated Frank Lampard’s men…
      Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6
      This man needed to be on top form if Chelsea wanted any glimmer of a chance of going through – thankfully up to the take early on with couple of smart, albeit relatively routine, stops.
      No chance with the first goal and must have been shocked when Karim Benzema passed a fine chance straight to him for an easy pick-up.
      Was left exposed again for second as Real wrapped it up.
      Wesley Fofana – 7
      Did brilliantly to just about put off Vinicius at the back post when he looked certain to score.
      Along with Reece James helped keep the left-winger relatively quiet after his field day at the Bernabeu six days ago but involved in a bit of a mix-up for the second.
      Most read in Champions League
      Thiago Silva – 7
      May be hitting 40 next year but still an absolute Rolls-Royce at the back, isn’t he? From keeping up with Fede Valverde on the counter to his perfect positioning,
      Kept English clubs’ nemesis Benzema so quiet for a full 70 minutes that Carlo Ancelotti took his superstar striker off – much to the Frenchman’s public displeasure.
      Rodrygo was on target twice at Stamford BridgeCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Thiago Silva remains Chelsea’s best defender despite his ageCredit: Getty
      Trevoh Chalobah – 4
      Afforded Rodrygo far too much space by standing off him – only for the winger to blast a fierce shot against the post.
      Went sliding in on the same man on the touchline but completely missed man and ball – then it was a matter of who rather than if Real would score. Answer: Rodrygo.
      Did make one strong recovery tackle late on.
      Reece James – 5
      Didn’t look his usual best – even appeared to take some kind of tablet midway through first half – and was moving pretty laboriously, but still posed a threat with his wicked deliveries.
      Booked early in second half for heavy foul on Eduardo Camavinga’s ankle and unable to get at the Real left-back.
      N’Golo Kante – 5
      Had the perfect chance to blow the roof off a rocking Stamford Bridge but fluffed his lines with a glorious chance on ten minutes – right place, wrong man.
      Incredibly, it was a case of copy and paste seven minutes after the break when Gallagher nodded down for the Frenchman to shoot on the swivel from six yards out but it lacked conviction and deflected wide.
      Enzo Fernandez – 6
      Woeful delivery from a dangerous free-kick position, inexplicably hitting the first man then drilled a long-range effort just wide.
      Clearly an exceptionally-talented midfielder but struggling to make as much of an impact as he would have wanted.
      Though he did force Courtois into a smart low stop – the Belgian’s only real save of any note – before going off as Chelsea searched for goals.
      Mateo Kovacic – 5
      Always happy to receive the ball, even with swarms of white shirts racing towards him.
      But as expected when the line-ups were revealed, he was never a realistic goal threat on a night where Chelsea simply had to score at least two.
      Marc Cucurella – 4
      Cynically brought down Rodrygo as he looked to launch a counter through the middle and rightly booked, putting him on a tightrope.
      Had a wonderful chance to blast the Blues in front on the stroke of half-time but his powerful hit from an angle was brilliantly blocked by pantomime villain Courtois.
      N’Golo Kante fluffed his lines with a huge chance in the tenth minuteCredit: Getty
      Marc Cucurella could have fired the Blues in frontCredit: Getty
      Conor Gallagher – 3
      A surprise inclusion in the starting XI considering the task at hand, deployed in behind Havertz.
      Chelsea could have had the first had he not misplaced a key pass in the opening minutes before he could not keep a header down, although the flag went up.
      Gave the ball away too much and offered very little. Brought off as Chelsea chased the game.
      Kai Havertz – 4
      Normally steps up in the big Champions League games but not today.
      Barely got a sniff out of the Real Madrid defenders all night and was given no scraps to feed off, leading to desperate appeals for a penalty that fell on deaf ears.
      Conor Gallagher offered very little in the gameCredit: Reuters
      Frank Lampard brought on Joao Felix, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling in one goCredit: Getty
      SUBS
      Joao Felix (for Gallagher, 67 mins) – 6
      Injected some quality from the off as well as some support around Havertz.
      Raheem Sterling (for Fernandez, 67 mins) – 5
      Didn’t do much after one jinking run as soon as he came on.
      Mykhailo Mudryk (for Cucurella, 67 mins) – 5
      Brought on technically as a left wing-back and helped Chalobah out with key defensive work to stop Vinicius.
      Read More on The Sun
      Flashes of good and bad – an exciting run twice ended with a terrible finish. Booked.
      Mason Mount (for Havertz, 77 mins) – 5
      Barely involved as Real Madrid saw out the win. More

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      Chelsea 0 Real Madrid 2 (0-4) LIVE RESULT: Rodrygo on the double to send Lampard’s Blues out of Champions League

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      CHELSEA have been knocked out of the Champions League after losing 4-0 on aggregate to Real Madrid in their quarter-final.Rodrygo scored twice in the second leg at Stamford Bridge to give the Spanish giants a 2-0 win away on the night.
      Frank Lampard’s Blues showed glimpses of getting into the tie, with N’Golo Kante and Marc Cucurella having good chances before Real dominated in the second half.

      Result: Chelsea 0 Real Madrid 2 (0-4 agg)
      Chelsea XI: Kepa; James, Thiago Silva, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Kovacic, Kanté, Enzo Fernandez; Gallagher Havertz
      Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Camavinga, Kroos, Modric, Valverde, Rodrgyo, Vinicius Jnr, Benzema

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      Goodbye!
      Real Madrid will find out their semi-final opponent tomorrow when Manchester City face Bayern Munich.
      Read more reaction to Chelsea’s loss via SunSport’s player ratings.
      And check out the major blunder before kick-off at Stamford Bridge.
      “We were much improved”
      After the game, Frank Lampard told BT Sport: “We played really well for 60 minutes. We created chances but you have to take them.
      “You don’t want to praise the performance too much when you lose at this level but we were much improved.
      “This club has been further in this competition and the players can take this feeling forward with them for the future.”
      On the rest of the season, Lampard says: “You’re playing for Chelsea. So regardless, every game you play you have to give everything.
      “I won’t let anyone off the hook and we have to show. That standard cannot drop.”
      Lampard’s horror run
      Frank Lampard has won just one of his last 18 games as a manager, losing 15 of them, in a run that dates back to his time at Everton earlier this season.
      He has also lost all eight of the games he has took charge of in 2021.
      Lampard also becomes the first manager in Chelsea history to lose his first four games as manager of the club.
      The Blues have lost four consecutive games for the first time since 1993.
      Gallagher’s post-match thoughts
      Conor Gallagher spoke to BT Sport after Chelsea suffered their fourth defeat in a row.
      He said: “I feel like we played well and had a lot of chances. But football is all about taking your chances which we didn’t do today.
      “Of course we are going to be gutted. We haven’t got that [cutting edge] at the minute but that was definitely a big improvement on recent performances.
      “We pushed players forward and Real Madrid were able to catch us a couple of times. We take it one game at a time. Hopefully we can build on the performance because I feel it was positive in a way.”
      Match Stats
      The stats highlight Chelsea’s problem.
      Loads of shot, lots of pressure, but they again can’t find the back of the net.
      Meanwhile, Real Madrid were clinical.

      Goalscoring problems hurt Chelsea again
      Frank Lampard and Thiago Silva clap their fans home but both will be frustrated with the way the game panned out.
      The manager was criticised by fans before the game begun due to his team selection that saw Chelsea start with four central midfielders.
      However, Lampard’s plan worked perfectly in the first-half as the Blues were comfortably the better team and had two big chances to score.
      Yet, it was perhaps his team selection that led to the chances being missed.
      N’Golo Kante is not the man you want on the end of a bouncing ball and Marc Cucurella also doesn’t have much goalscoring history.
      Chelsea put many balls into the box but there were rarely any takers or any player ready to pounce on a loose ball or dart into the box.
      It is crazy how Todd Boehly has spent over £600m in two transfer windows but they still lack a striker and in-form attackers.
      Credit: Reuters
      AC Milan knock out Napoli
      AC Milan have beaten Napoli 2-1 on aggregate.
      Stefano Pioli’s side drew 1-1 tonight in Naples with Olivier Giroud and Victor Osimhen scoring the goals tonight.
      Napoli are miles ahead in the Serie A table, with Milan 22 points behind them in the league, yet they go through to the semi-finals to play either Inter Milan or Benfica.
      Full Time: Chelsea 0-2 Real Madrid
      Chelsea are out of the Champions League, losing 4-0 to Real Madrid on aggregate.
      The Blues had plenty of chances to get themselves back in the tie as Kante and Cucurella missed glorious opportunities in the first-half.
      In the end, they are left to rue those chances not taken as Real Madrid showed their quality and experience to net twice via Rodrygo.
      Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Chelsea 0-2 Real Madrid
      90+1. Two minutes before Chelsea get put out their misery.
      Pockets of empty seats are beginning to form as Fofana gives away a free-kick.
      Real Madrid are seeing the game out, keeping control of the ball.
      Chelsea are set to lose four successive games for the first time since 1993.
      Chelsea 0-2 Real Madrid
      89. Mudryk gets a yellow card for catching Modric late.
      A sliding tackle that is full of frustration about the result.
      Felix then has a shot from 30 yards that flies into row Z.
      Chelsea 0-2 Real Madrid
      88. Chelsea’s season summarised.
      Mudryk is offside and the flag saves some embrassment.
      The Ukrainian winger is in, Courtois narrows down the angle well, but somehow Mudryk fails to even get his shot on target. Disappointing.
      Chelsea 0-2 Real Madrid
      86. Real Madrid are trying to walk it home now, showing off their class.
      Vinicius has a chance to shoot but he instead opts for a cheeky pass to Ceballos.
      Chalobah is there to intercept it and drive forward out the defence, yet there is a lack of movement up front. Belief that Lampard spoke about before the game is now all gone.
      Chelsea 0-2 Real Madrid
      84. Chelsea look demoralised, Real Madrid are cruising.
      Valverde has been exceptional all evening and he is pulling the strings in midfield with his energy and great passing.
      The intensity has completely gone from the Chelsea performance.
      Chelsea 0-2 Real Madrid
      81. Asensio and Nacho come on for Rodrygo and Carvajal.
      Ancelotti resting his key players now.
      GOAL: Chelsea 0-2 Real Madrid
      79. A goal that oozes class and it sends Chelsea fans to the exit.
      Rodrygo with another tap-in.
      Vinicius pulls it back to Valverde as he skips past Mudryk and Silva with silky touches.
      The Uruguayan then passes it across the face of the goal for Rodrygo to smash it in.
      Bayern Munich or Man City will play Real Madrid in the semi-final.
      Chelsea 0-1 Real Madrid
      77. Subs for both.
      Mount is on for Havertz.
      And for Real Madrid, Kroos comes off for Ceballos.
      Chelsea 0-1 Real Madrid
      75. Vinicius Jr is away and through on goal – everyone expects it to go 2-0.
      However, Mudryk uses all his speed to zoom back.
      He and Chalobah do enough to prevent Vinicius getting a clear shot away.
      Chelsea 0-1 Real Madrid
      73. Felix does so well, dribbling the ball out of the defence into the attack, nutmegging an opponent on the way.
      But he tries to release Sterling and his pass is intercepted by Camavinga.
      Chelsea frustration grows. The cutting edge and confidence in attack just is not there.
      Chelsea 0-1 Real Madrid
      71. Benzema hands the captain’s armband to Modric.
      He trudges off the pitch after a very poor performance from his standards – he has not really touched the ball much in threatening areas and given it away far too often.
      Tchouameni comes on.
      Chelsea 0-1 Real Madrid
      70. Havertz throws himself to the floor after being lightly tapped by Modric.
      The referee and VAR tell him to get up.
      Chelsea 0-1 Real Madrid
      69. That man again with the block, Militao.
      Kante shifts it wide to James, who opts to pull it back to the edge of the box to Sterling, only for his shot to hit the centre-back and fo out for a corner.
      Chelsea 0-1 Real Madrid
      67. Here comes the three changes.
      Felix for Gallagher.
      Sterling for Fernandez.
      And Mudryk for Cucurella.
      Chelsea 0-1 Real Madrid
      66. Incredible skill from Vinicius Jr, dancing around multiple Chelsea defenders.
      The ball drops to Benzema and his first time shot is straight at Kepa.
      Chelsea 0-1 Real Madrid
      65. Fernandez has a go, his shot is powerful but Courtois is down quickly to make a good save.
      Chelsea 0-1 Real Madrid
      63. It is the travelling Real Madrid supporters that can be heard singing for the first time tonight.
      Mudryk, Sterling and Felix are going to come on.
      Maybe too late with the scoreline as it is now.
      Load more entries… More

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      Chelsea fans wish Ashley Cole was starting in place of current star as legend shows passion while coaching flops

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      CHELSEA fans were wishing that Ashley Cole was playing against Real Madrid after footage emerged of him coaching the club’s flops.The Blues have been in abysmal form this season and exited the Champions League after losing to Real Madrid.
      Chelsea fans are wishing Ashley Cole was still playingCredit: TWITTER
      They claim he would be better than the club’s current playersCredit: TWITTER
      The club have brought back Frank Lampard as an interim manager until the end of the season, replacing the axed Graham Potter.
      Cole has also returned to the club to coach the underperforming players.
      And fans wish he was still playing instead of Marc Cucurella after spotting him passionately coaching the summer signing.
      One fan tweeted: “LOVE this intensity and passion from Ashley Cole…”
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      A second commented: “Exactly what we’ve been needing. More passion shown from Ash in these few minutes than the whole club in the whole of the season.”

      A third said: “That’s the type of player that Chelsea are missing.”
      A fourth wrote: “Guy isn’t fit to wear the shirt. Ashley now > > > Cucurella.”
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      While a fifth added: “It’s the bloody players who need the passion and desire not Ashley Cole, didn’t see him on the team sheet.”
      Most read in Football
      Another stated: “I think if he played he would still be better than Cucarella.”
      Real Madrid won 2-0 on the night to clinch the tie 4-0 on aggregate.
      Chelsea have now lost all four games since Lampard’s arrival at the club. More

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      Fans all spot major blunder before Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid as Blues make ANOTHER gaffe

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      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.
      The Champions League anthem did not play inside Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
      Fans were left baffled by the latest stadium blunderCredit: Getty
      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.
      Most read in Champions League
      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. More

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      Frank Lampard reveals reason for ‘simple’ tactics in Chelsea’s three defeats since ‘challenging’ return

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      FRANK LAMPARD revealed the reason behind his “simple” tactics in his nightmare return to Chelsea.The club legend returned to the Stamford Bridge dugout to replace Graham Potter until the end of the season.
      Frank Lampard has tried to keep it ‘simple’ since returning to ChelseaCredit: Reuters
      However, it has not worked out as planned for the ex-midfielder – with three defeats from three so far.
      He has tried a variety of formations and shapes but to no avail as of yet.
      But Lampard explained his thoughts ahead of tonight’s must-win clash with Real Madrid.
      He told BT Sport: “This two-week period that we’ve come into has been challenging, so you do everything you can in terms of preparation and meeting.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      “Simple might not be the idea, but you try not to overcomplicate it, but the biggest thing then is to implement it with energy, desire and passion that these nights demand.”
      Lampard opted for a defensive-minded line-up to face the 14-time European champions tonight.
      That included a back five and three holding midfielders behind Conor Gallagher and Kai Havertz.
      Fans at home slammed the decisions, highlighting the need for Chelsea to score at least twice to even force extra-time in this Champions League quarter-final second leg.
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      One Blues supporter tweeted: “This is the worst Chelsea team I’ve seen in my entire life.”
      A second wrote: “Wow Chelsea are trying to draw this game 0-0. Most negative team I’ve ever seen.”
      A third commented: “Considering the circumstance (2-0 down) and the players at his disposal this is genuinely shocking.”
      A fourth said: “5 defenders 4 midfielders 1 false 9 on the pitch. As a Chelsea fan you always believe when it comes to must win European match. I genuinely have no faith at all today.”
      But defender Wesley Fofana is confident Chelsea can cause an almighty upset – because of the man in the dugout and the fans around the pitch.
      The £70million former Leicester defender said: “Frank is a legend, he knows the club and the fans.
      “He understands the identity of Chelsea and when he talks in the meetings, you listen, because he knows.
      “He played football at the very top, his career is immense.
      “When he talks, he says to play for the badge, for the fans all over the world.
      “These are good words because you’re thinking, ‘It’s real, it’s true.'”
      Fofana added the Blues supporters can have a “70 per cent” influence tonight.
      Read More on The Sun
      He said: “When the fans push you, you feel invincible.
      “But after that it is up to the players. It is everyone together and we can qualify for the next round, for sure.” More

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      Chelsea fans blast ‘worst team in their entire lives’ as they predict extremely negative tactic vs Real Madrid

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      CHELSEA fans have been stunned by Frank Lampard’s team selection ahead of the Champions League clash with Real Madrid.The interim manager named what fans are saying is a very ‘negative’ side with four defensive midfielders in the line-up ahead of the quarter-final at Stamford Bridge.

      Frank Lampard has named what fans are saying is a very negative side to take on Real MadridCredit: Getty
      Chelsea need to overturn a two-goal deficit if they are to progress past the semi-finals.
      The team’s midfield includes Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic.
      They will play ahead of a back five of Wesley Fofana, Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah and wing-backs Marc Cucurella and Reece James.
      Kai Havertz is expected to lead the line by himself.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      This means that Lampard has benched attackers Joao Felix, Hakim Ziyech, Raheem Sterling, Christian Pulisic and Mykhailo Mudryk, despite needing goals.
      In the build-up to the match, pundit Steve McManaman was asked if he thought Real Madrid would be worried after seeing Chelsea’s line-up.

      He had a hilariously blunt reply, simply saying: “No.”
      And fans have jumped on to social media to slam the defensive nature of the team.
      Most read in Football
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      One Blues supporter tweeted: “This is the worst Chelsea team I’ve seen in my entire life.”
      A second wrote: “Wow Chelsea are trying to draw this game 0-0. Most negative team I’ve ever seen.”
      A third commented: “Considering the circumstance (2-0 down) and the players at his disposal this is genuinely shocking.”
      A fourth said: “5 defenders 4 midfielders 1 false 9 on the pitch. As a Chelsea fan you always believe when it comes to must win European match. I genuinely have no faith at all today.”
      While a fifth added: “This lineup doesn’t make sense to me in any way.”
      Another declared: “This lineup is actually horrendous. I’ve only been watching football for 6 months, yet I can tell you this lineup is very very confusing.”
      Explaining his squad selection before the game, Lampard told BT Sport: “When I look at us at the moment – firstly, you have to respect the opponent and the level of the game.
      “I have to pick players that I feel are in good shape and nick. It’s up to us how that looks and how we use that offensively and defensively and how we can join in with pace.
      “With the wing backs in the team, shaping up how we were last week was a part of the game we didn’t use enough.
      Read More on The Sun
      “When you use this system you must have possession of the ball, you must get your wing backs up the pitch and you must have players from midfield who will get in the box.
      “We have the legs and energy and the capacity defensively to deal with the most important parts of the pitch with the level of player they have in there.” More

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      Champions League semi-final draw: Dates, teams, fixtures – Man City and Chelsea could face off

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      THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE is reaching its business end.The quarter-finals conclude this week, and the draw for the semi-finals has already taken place.
      The Champions League semi-final draw has taken placeCredit: EPA
      The semi-final draw took place at the same time as the quarter-final draw, so each team know their clear path to the final in Istanbul on June 10.
      Manchester City have one foot in the semi-finals, leading Bayern Munich 3-0 from the first leg.
      While Chelsea have it all to do against Real Madrid, with Frank Lampard’s side 2-0 down.
      Here’s all you need to know for the crucial semi-finals.
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      When are the Champions League semi-finals?
      The Champions League semi-final first legs are taking place on May 9 and 10, with the second legs on the week of May 16 and 17.
      These are the semi-finals which will take place following the quarters.

      AC Milan/Napoli vs Inter Milan/ Benfica – semi-final 1
      Real Madrid/Chelsea vs Man City/Bayern Munich – semi-final 2

      Chelsea and Man City could meet in an all-Premier League semi-final though this depends on the Blues staging a huge comeback against Real.
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      While Serie A high-fliers Napoli must defeat rivals Milan to then face either Inter or Benfica in their semi-final.
      Erling Haaland’s Man City are closing in on the final fourCredit: Getty
      Champions League remaining dates 2022/23
      Quarter-finals: 11/12 & 18/19 April 2023Semi-finals: 9/10 & 16/17 May 2023Final: 10 June 2023 More