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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.
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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.”
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      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.
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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.
      Most read in Champions League
      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

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      Chelsea fans demand Frank Lampard plays HIMSELF against Real Madrid after they spot training video

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      CHELSEA fans have been demanding that Frank Lampard picks himself to play against Real Madrid.The calls came after footage of the club icon juggling a ball during training emerged, showing that he has not lost his touch.

      Chelsea boss Lampard impressed with his juggling skillsCredit: AFP
      And fans asked that he picks himself to play against Real Madrid tonightCredit: AFP
      Now the interim coach of the Blues, Lampard is aiming to help his side overturn a two-goal deficit when they face the LaLiga giants at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League tonight.
      Lampard has been leading training since the firing of Graham Potter, but the club has lost each of the three games that he has been in charge.
      However as he entered training today, Lampard showed off his ability to control the ball as he juggled and balanced it on his foot – all while holding a clipboard.
      This has led to fans calling for the former midfielder to play himself against Real Madrid.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      One fan tweeted: “He should just put on the jersey and play for us today, maybe we can have some hope.”
      A second wrote: “I think they need him out there !… On the pitch! lol.”
      A third commented: “Let him play as their striker tonight.”
      A fourth said: “Get him in line up player-coach Terry back too and Drogba!!!!”
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      While a fifth declared: “Chelsea’s player of the season.”
      A sixth added: “He’d do a better job than 95% of Chelsea’s current midfield.”
      Another joked: “Probs worth getting the kit on can’t be worse than Havertz up top.”
      Chelsea face Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final in a bid to salvage something from this season.
      They are languishing in eleventh place in the league, ten points off seventh-placed Brighton, who beat them at the weekend. More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘best ever XI of team-mates’ including three Man Utd legends

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO’S best XI of team-mates has been revealed including three from Manchester United.The 38-year-old has played alongside some of the most brilliant footballers of his generation.
      Ronaldo has played alongside some of the best in the world during his long careerCredit: EPA
      Gareth Bale combined with Ronaldo to cause chaos for opposition defences at Real MadridCredit: Getty
      Casillas played alongside Ronaldo at MadridCredit: Corbis
      Ronaldo also won countless trophies for United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
      The best ever XI of his team-mates, according to Goal Arabia, is made up of players from those sides, with no one from his current team of Al-Nassr nor his first team of Sporting Lisbon making the cut.
      Instead there are three players from the Red Devils – but the trio all only featured in his first spell at Old Trafford between 2003 to 2009.
      Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand all made it into the team.
      READ MORE ON RONALDO
      Along with Ronaldo, those three were among the most important stars in Sir Alex Ferguson’s dominant late noughties side who won three Premier League titles in a row and the 2008 Champions League.

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      Ronaldo left for Real Madrid in 2009 and the bulk of the selection comes from his nine years at the Bernabeu.
      Club legends Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Marcelo and Karim Benzema are in with Toni Kroos and Gareth Bale.
      The Portuguese international won four Champions Leagues and two league titles while in Spain.
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      He then left for Juventus and played alongside the final player who makes it into Goal’s line-up.
      The star in question is Juve legend Giorgio Chiellini, who played for the club for 18 years including four alongside Ronaldo.
      The forward won two Serie A titles before heading back to Old Trafford for his ill-fated second spell.
      There is no shortage of legends in the team
      Italian legend Giorgio Chiellini was the only Juventus player to make it inCredit: Getty
      Luka Modric is one of seven Real Madrid players in the XICredit: Getty More