Chelsea’s Champions League dreams came to a disappointing end as they were soundly beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid in their quarter-final clash.
With Los Blancos having won by the same scoreline in the first leg, they secured an emphatic 4-0 aggregate victory over Frank Lampard’s side.
Although Chelsea had opportunities to score, with Marc Cucurella coming close in the first half, they were unable to find the back of the net.
Real Madrid’s clinical attack eventually paid off in the 57th minute, as Rodrygo scored to extend their lead.
The Brazilian added another goal towards the end of the match, sealing Lampard’s fourth consecutive defeat since becoming interim manager and marking Chelsea’s worst run of form in 30 years.
Who is to blame for Chelsea’s loss?
Frank Lampard’s team selection for Chelsea’s crucial match against Real Madrid was surprising, given their need to win by at least two goals – a feat they had only accomplished twice in their last 20 games across all competitions.
Rather than fielding an attacking lineup, Lampard opted for a seemingly conservative approach by including an extra midfielder in Conor Gallagher at the expense of Raheem Sterling.
However, this strategy ultimately proved ineffective in breaking down Real Madrid’s defense.
With only Kai Havertz as the sole striker, Chelsea’s midfielders Conor Gallagher and N’Golo Kante were deployed in unusual roles as advanced No. 8s.
Despite the unusual system, the home side started the match brightly and caused some problems for Real Madrid.
Chelsea’s most promising opportunity in the first half came from a dangerous cross by Reece James, which found Kante in the box.
However, the French midfielder’s first-time shot missed the target by a significant margin, highlighting why he is typically deployed in a deeper position.