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      Todd Boehly set to slash NINETEEN Chelsea stars’ wages after crashing out of Champions League

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      CHELSEA are set to slash 19 players’ wages when they fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League.The Blues crashed out of the competition last night after being beaten 4-0 on aggregate by Real Madrid.
      Todd Boehly had implemented a new contracts strategyCredit: Rex
      The defeat ended Chelsea’s faint prospect of qualifying for next season’s Champions League by virtue of winning it this time around.
      And with Frank Lampard’s side 11th in the Premier League, 17 points off fourth with seven matches left, they will not qualify for Europe’s premier competition via their league position either.
      Co-owner Todd Boehly has guarded against the financial hit of not being in the Champions League by inserting clauses in players’ contracts.
      According to the Telegraph, some stars will see their wages slashed by as much as 30 per cent.
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      Only players that have signed contracts since Boehly’s takeover last year will be affected.
      This includes the 12 permanent signings made, as well as seven senior players that have extended their contracts.
      First team squad members who have not extended their contracts since Boehly’s arrival will not have their salaries reduced.
      Under Roman Abramovich, Chelsea would only tie bonuses to winning trophies, rather than merely qualifying for the Champions League.
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      High earners remaining on Abramovich-era contracts include Kepa Arrizabalaga and Kai Havertz.
      While key man N’Golo Kante is set to be out of contract this summer, and would need to sign an extension on Boehly’s terms.
      Thiago Silva, Reece James, Cesar Azpilicueta, Ben Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah, Armando Broja and Marcus Bettinelli have penned new deals since Boehly’s arrival.
      The American, 49, went into the Chelsea dressing room after their 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday – ranting that his stars are “embarrassing”.
      Thiago Silva subsequently blasted the Chelsea owners’ strategy after his side’s Champions League exit last night.
      The Brazilian scathingly told TNT Sports Brazil: “I think the first step has been made, an incorrect step, but it has been made.
      “We can’t be blaming the managers if we don’t take responsibility. It’s a hard period for the club, with a lot of indecision.
      “Change of ownership, new players arriving – we had to increase the size of the changing room because it didn’t fit the size of the squad.
      “A positive point is that there are amazing players in the squad but on the other hand there are always players that are going to be unhappy.
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      “There is always going to be someone upset because not everyone can play. The manager can only pick 11 from a squad of 30-something – that’s tough.
      “Some can’t make the squad, we signed eight in January, we need to stop and put a strategy in place otherwise next season we could make the same mistakes.”
      Thiago Silva ripped into Chelsea’s strategy after the defeat to Real MadridCredit: TNT Sports Brasil More

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      Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti reveals his genius half-time tactical tweak to nullify Chelsea threat

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      CARLO ANCELOTTI made a superb tactical change at half-time during Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Chelsea.The Italian coach, 63, guided his side to the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday night as victory at Stamford Bridge sealed a 4-0 aggregate triumph.
      Carlo Ancelotti made a tactical tweak at half-timeCredit: AFP
      N’Golo Kante was giving Real Madrid problems in the first halfCredit: Getty
      But his former club Chelsea were causing the reigning European champions some trouble in the opening 45 minutes.
      Frank Lampard packed the midfield with Enzo Fernandez and Mateo Kovacic holding and Conor Gallagher and N’Golo Kante in more forward areas – forming a box in the middle of the park.
      Kante, 32, was getting some joy in the right channel as Reece James’ high position drew Eduardo Camavinga out.
      And with the game goalless at the break, Ancelotti chose to move midfielder Fede Valverde in to help cover that area in the second half.
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      Speaking after the game, he said: “I think that we suffered the position of Kante, that wasn’t right.
      “Camavinga was used to put pressure on Reece James on the left and we had difficulty controlling the position of Kante.
      “In the second half [I] changed the position. I put Valverde on the left just to control the position and we were much better there because the position in the first half Modric went to stay with Enzo and that position was not covered properly and Camavinga suffered two against one.
      “Because of this there were six crosses from that side in the first half. Second half was much better.”
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      Ancelotti also hailed keeper Thibaut Courtois after his brilliant first-half save to deny Marc Cucurella.
      He added: “We’re very happy to reach another semi final.
      “We fought a lot, it was a complicated game as we predicted. In this type of game the rival is going to give everything.
      “Chelsea played very well, especially in the first half. They caused us a lot of problems, Courtois saved us, kept it 0-0 until half time.
      “In the second half we played a lot better, we had a lot more quality. Chelsea lowered their intensity a bit and we were able to control the ball better.”
      Real Madrid will now face either Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
      Man City lead 3-0 heading into the second leg of their last-eight tie with the German champions on Wednesday evening.
      Fede Valverde, left, helped stifle the threat of Kante after the breakCredit: EPA More

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      Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez SLAMMED and told error against Real Madrid ‘must be addressed’

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      CHELSEA’S record signing Enzo Fernandez has been slammed for his performance against Real Madrid.And one particular error “must be addressed”, with a second eventually leading to a goal.
      Enzo Fernandez’s performance against Real Madrid has been blastedCredit: Rex
      Fernandez, 22, lined up in midfield last night as the Blues were beaten 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
      He became the most expensive midfielder in history when he joined Chelsea from Benfica for £107million in January.
      And Fernandez has so far impressed in 15 appearances.
      However, the World Cup winner with Argentina struggled to compete with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos yesterday.
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      One particular incident saw Fernandez lose possession before slowly jogging backwards as Chelsea team-mate Conor Gallagher, deployed as a forward, raced past him to defend.
      Minutes later, Fernandez gave the ball away again and quickly saw Real Madrid take the lead through Rodrygo as he sauntered along the pitch.
      This did not go down well with Champions League winner and Holland icon Wesley Sneijder.
      The former Inter Milan and Real Madrid star believes Todd Boehly has every right to be furious with his big-money signing.
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      And Sneijder insists Fernandez must address his work-rate issues instead of just focusing on playing passes.
      He told RTL7: “If you have been brought in as a player for €100million then you can at least expect that he will run his lungs out, right?
      “But he walked! He loses the ball himself, then he has a moment of mourning. You see Enzo, a €100m purchase [sic], trudge a bit while Gallagher runs past him.
      “That is not possible, it must be addressed.
      “You look at a boy like that and I wonder: what does he take ownership of? He doesn’t. I’d call that boy on the mat tomorrow.
      “I don’t think he’s a great footballer either. You [the show’s presenter] said he did it for Lionel Messi [at the World Cup]. I thought he would do it at Chelsea too, but he doesn’t.
      “If things don’t go smoothly in football, and you’re not scoring goals, then you have to make sure you don’t concede. You have to run your lungs out, and he won’t do that.
      “I understand that [going and speaking to the players]. As an owner, you have paid so much money, so you are angry and you walk in.
      “If you are the owner watching in the stands and you see that Gallagher is making such a sprint and your €100m [sic] player is not, then yes, I would also get angry!” More

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      Bastian Schweinsteiger lauds ‘one of best assists for long time’ and predicts star to become ‘top three in world’ player

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      FORMER Manchester United star Bastian Schweinsteiger sang the praises of AC Milan’s Rafael Leao after his superb assist against Napoli.The seven-time Champions League winners progressed to the semi-final after beating Napoli 2-1 on aggregate.

      Rafael Leao produced a stunning assist to help AC Milan beat Napoli on aggregateCredit: Getty
      Olivier Giroud scored the key goal but Leao has stolen the plaudits for his remarkable solo run that allowed the Frenchman to tap into an empty net.
      Leao, 23, picked up the ball in his own half and quickly beat his first marker before gliding past another defender.
      All of a sudden it was two on three and Leao showed amazing strength and balance to skip past Amir Rrahmani before squaring for Giroud to score.
      Schweinsteiger was blown away by the passage of play and heaped praise on the Portugal international.
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      He tweeted: “Rafael Leão‘s assist for Giroud was one of the best I have seen for a long time!
      “If Leão can prove his qualities more often he will be one of the top three players in the world.”
      Fans agreed with the Bayern Munich icon and lavished praise on Leao.
      One said: “The acceleration to get through Amir Rrahmani was so special 😵”
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      Another added: “That run was incredible. He has the potential to be one of the best in the world with that quality but for players like him with all the technical abilities, it’s about mentality to reach the very top. He has the technical ability we all know that and can clearly see that.”
      A third said: “100% Basti and I’ve been saying it for a while. He’s as good as [Kylian] Mbappe when on it.”
      Another remarked: “Agree! His balance, touch and pace with the ball is unreal.” More

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      Chelsea legend Joe Cole names his perfect next Blues manager and begs him to ‘come home’

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      CHELSEA legend Joe Cole has called on Carlo Ancelotti to return to Stamford Bridge as Blues manager.The Italian oversaw Real Madrid’s 4-0 aggregate win over Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final this week.
      Joe Cole played under Carlo Ancelotti at ChelseaCredit: Graham Hughes – The Times
      And Ancelotti is reportedly on Chelsea’s shortlist of candidates to take over as permanent manager in the summer.
      The 63-year-old managed Chelsea between 2009 and 2011 and won the Premier League in 2010.
      Cole was part of that team and he is desperate for his former manager to return to West London.
      He said on BT Sport: “I love Carlo. He was actually one I thought could be on the list to come back here.
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      “If you ever want a manager to soothe a club and to just rebuild it…he might fancy the challenge.
      “I’m clutching [at straws] here, I’m clutching. Carlo please come home.”
      Todd Boehly is also a big fan of Ancelotti and could try to lure him back to the club.
      But the veteran boss played down talk of a comeback, despite admitting he is a fan of the club.
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      He said: “I have a fantastic memory of Chelsea. I am a supporter of the club. But go back? No.
      “I think Lampard is the right man and he will do a great job with them.
      “Lampard is a very good coach, he has a great team and he knows how to prepare big matches.”
      Asked about the Blues’ current situation, Italian Ancelotti added: “I am sad as I have fantastic memories and know a lot of people there.
      “I had two fantastic years there.” More

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      Real Madrid star Rodrygo explains why he copied Cristano Ronaldo’s celebration after scoring against Chelsea

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      REAL MADRID star Rodrygo has explained why he copied Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration after scoring against Chelsea.The Brazilian forward, 22, was in top form at Stamford Bridge last night.
      Rodrygo has revealed why he copied Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration against ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Ronaldo has made the ‘Siu’ move his ownCredit: AFP
      He put the Blues to the sword with both goals in a 2-0 win.
      And it sent Real through to the Champions League semis with a 4-0 aggregate scoreline.
      Interestingly, Rodrygo capped off his opener by running towards the corner flag before jumping in the air and spinning around while shouting “Siuuu”.
      The celebration is strongly associated with ex-Manchester United star Ronaldo, now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr.
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      Rodrygo usually celebrates goals by sliding on his knees.
      And he says he copied “idol” Ronaldo last night as he had pains in his legs.
      Rodrygo explained: “When I scored, my immediate reaction was to think about doing one of those knee slides.
      “But I have got a slightly tender knee when I flex.
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      “So it popped into my mind to copy my idol Cristiano, and copy what he does.
      “It’s such a pleasure to be at this great club, the best in the world.
      “Courtois saved us when we weren’t initially finishing our chances and now we’ll see whether it’s City or Bayern we face next.”
      Rodrygo has been at Real Madrid in 2019 after a £40million move from Santos.
      He has 31 goals in 154 games for Los Blancos, and is enjoying his best season so far with 13 strikes in all competitions.
      Rodrygo has also won 13 caps for Brazil, but has just one goal for his country. More

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      I brought Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel together for a six-hour dinner… it was like seeing Plato meet Socrates

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      FORMER Bayern Munich chief Michael Reschke has recalled the mesmerising moment when he brought Thomas Tuchel and Pep Guardiola together for dinner – and they talked football for six hours. The two managers will go head-to-head again tonight as Bayern look to overturn a three-goal deficit against Manchester City in the Champions League.
      Tuchel managed German club Mainz for five years before moving to Dortmund in 2015Credit: Getty
      Pep Guardiola has enjoyed some epic tactical duels with Thomas Tuchel over the yearsCredit: PA
      But when the pair are not crossing swords in the dugout they can get very deep in conversation about the beautiful game.
      When he was Bayern technical director, Reschke was set to have dinner with Tuchel who was then the up-and-coming manager of Mainz.
      He bumped into Guardiola on his way to the meeting and the Spaniard, who was Bayern boss at the time, requested to come along.
      Reschke tells the Mail: “You can imagine for someone who loves football, it was an unbelievable moment.
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      “We philosophised about tactics, the game in general and while I was mainly listening, I am certain there have been very few conversations of this level. It was like Plato coming to meet Socrates.
      “We had a brief ‘Hi, how’s the family? Good? Great … Let’s talk football.’ We were there for six hours.
      “They both have a photographic memory about games from years before. It’s phenomenal. Not just about one moment but how it unfolded, who passed to who, what it led to and why. Thomas was alive with questions.”
      Reschke adds that Tuchel was particularly interested in the infamous Chelsea v Barcelona Champions League game in 2009 when a late Andreas Iniesta goal took Guardiola’s side to the final.
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      The technical director said that the two managers “swim in football like fish in an aquarium”.
      Tuchel gave Guardiola plenty of problems when he was Chelsea boss with the German masterminding three wins over Man City in the final six weeks of the 2020-21 season.
      This included victories in the league, the FA Cup semi-final and the Champions League final.
      But it was Guardiola who was celebrating last week as City pulled apart the German champions in the first leg of their European clash last week. More

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      Boehly goes into Chelsea dressing room AGAIN & legend Drogba says ‘I don’t recognise my club’ as season up in smoke

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      TODD BOEHLY marched into the Chelsea dressing room for the second time in two games following the Blues’ Champions League exit.The West Londoners once again tasted defeat in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie with Real Madrid on Tuesday night, which they lost 2-0.
      Chelsea were dumped out of the Champions League by Real Madrid on Tuesday nightCredit: GETT
      Chelsea chief Todd Boehly was in attendance for the defeat at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
      The American went into the Blues’ dressing room after the match for the second game runningCredit: GETTY
      And just as he did after their embarrassing loss to Brighton last weekend, the American billionaire went into the changing room after the match to have words with the team.
      Boehly strolled across the Stamford Bridge turf a couple of minutes after trusted assistant Behdad Eghbali headed inside.
      But unlike last weekend, he wasn’t in the changing room for long – leaving around ten minutes later with Eghbali.
      That was in stark contrast to the HOUR-LONG rant he went on after last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
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      A brace from Rodrygo fired Real through to yet another European Cup semi-final.
      Interim Blues boss Frank Lampard saw his selection gamble backfire as Boehly’s £600million mad-dash season went up in flames.
      Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Lampard left £257.5million of ­talent on the bench including ­forwards Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix.
      The trio came on after 67 minutes but their dreams were ­busted by two second-half Rodrygo goals for Real.
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      With just 17 goals this season in Lampard’s starting line-up, including lone forward Kai Havertz’s nine, N’Golo Kante and Marc Cucurella missed vital chances.
      Defending champions Real will face the ­winners of Wednesday’s clash between Manchester City and Bayern Munich in the semi-finals later this month.
      Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, like many of the Stamford Bridge faithful, has been left baffled by just how far the team have fallen in the last year.
      The Ivorian said: “I knew this club with a certain class but today I find it lacking.
      “They should go back to the principles and values they had. I don’t recognise my club anymore.”
      Lampard, who in his second spell, is the first Chelsea boss in history to lose his first four games.
      The former Blues midfielder and manager will bid to pick up his first win next Wednesday when they welcome West London rivals Brentford to Stamford Bridge.
      Chelsea had no answer to Real Madrid’s attacking prowessCredit: AFP
      Chelsea legend Didier Drogba does not recognise his former clubCredit: Getty More