Thomas Tuchel admitted that Chelsea’s Champions League protection died within the water after Actual Madrid uncovered their defensive fragility to take a 3-1 quarter-final benefit.
The European champions should come from two targets down at subsequent week’s Bernabéu return to have any likelihood of defending their title after Karim Benzema scored two extraordinary targets within the first half and penalized Edward Mendy’s error to depart 13-time winners Actual Madrid in management. After a hat-trick in consecutive Champions League matches.
The chances stack up in opposition to semi-finalists Chelsea, as solely one of many earlier 43 groups that trailed by two targets or extra in a Champions League knockout match has fallen to show such a deficit away from dwelling within the competitors’s historical past.
Thomas Tuchel says his full focus is on Southampton
Requested if he thought the tie was nonetheless alive, Chelsea coach Tuchel stated: “As we speak, that’s the case. [tie] Alive with this efficiency? No, not this present day.
“We have now to seek out ourselves once more, I do not know the place we’ve been for the reason that worldwide break. Tonight was a repeat of the second half in opposition to Brentford within the quarter-final in opposition to Actual Madrid. 5 days, seven targets conceded. I do not suppose there’s a deeper cause or it’s worrying.”
“With the whole lot the sport requires, you can’t count on a outcome from this type of efficiency. We have been removed from our degree, tactically, individually, in type, in challenges. We tried to play in a brand new formation and killed the match with a giant mistake.
Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick at Chelsea on Wednesday evening
“It is by no means about anyone participant or one participant, it is all the way down to all of us, myself included. Individually we have misplaced type and sharpness. Because the worldwide break, clearly we did not look the identical and I do not actually have a proof. We got here from an extended profitable streak. The place we have been actually aggressive, however the first half wasn’t ok.”
If Chelsea make an surprising comeback in subsequent week’s second leg on the Bernabeu, Tuchel believes the best way his staff will reply in Saturday’s Premier League journey to Southampton, which now dominates his focus, will probably be essential.
“We have now to arrange for Saturday in opposition to Southampton, not [return leg at the] Bernabeu, “Tuchel defined.” If we preserve enjoying like this, we can’t get some extent [at Southampton].
“I am extra anxious about Southampton than Actual Madrid subsequent week, there’s my focus. Initially we have to play Southampton.
“If we do not get our heads and legs straight and our mentality proper, we can’t win at Southampton after which this showdown is not going to outlive.
“If issues change, maybe, however what number of golf equipment in world soccer have gained what we want, by three targets? What number of occasions has this occurred? Maybe it might be lifelike to reply that manner.”
