Tuchel Expresses Pessimism Ahead Of Chelsea's Second Leg clash against Madrid

 

Tuchel Expresses Pessimism Ahead Of Chelsea's Second Leg clash against Bernabeu

 Akintola Samuel

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted that his side can only "dream" of reaching the Champions League semi-finals, with the Blues needing to overturn their first leg deficit against Real Madrid.

The 13th-time Champions League winners were unplayable at Stamford Bridge last week, with Karim Benzema netting a hat-trick in west London, leaving the Blues needing a huge performance in the return leg if they are to have any hope of advancing.

A very frank and honest Tuchel revealed after the first leg that the tie was "not alive" after witnessing one of the "worst first-halves" at Stamford Bridge since he took charge.

 

Also, the German reiterated his assessment on the eve of the return leg at the Bernabeu, admitting that the task at hand is "incredibly hard" and that Chelsea will need a "fantastic script" if they are to book their spot in the Champions League semi-finals.

According to him, it is unlikely, but it is worth trying, and trying means that Madrid will play to Chelsea's fullest and to their full limit. This is what it is. It is a big night, "he said.

He added that they needed nothing else other than a fantastic script. The task and challenge are incredibly hard and against who Chelsea play and where they play.

The Chelsea boss, in his own words, said, "We're allowed to dream. It's sometimes important to imagine things and dream about them." It will not shift the focus. We will support our team and we will try hard.

"It's sports and it's a game, and that's the beauty of the game, that everything is possible."

Tuchel also said that Chelsea had struggled to compete physically in the first leg and that the Premier League's decision to limit teams to three substitutions in a match, compared to five in LaLiga, hampered his side.