Romelu Lukaku has already cost the club a lot in transfer fee and wages this season. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s clash against Real Madrid as quoted by Football London, Thomas Tuchel has outlined how the Blues have a disadvantage when it comes to the aspect of physicality.
Real Madrid took a 3-1 advantage in the first leg thanks to a hattrick from Karim Benzema while Kai Havertz netted for the Blues. Tuchel’s men look to do the unthinkable and overturn the deficit as they look to stake a claim in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Chelsea are coming off the back of a 6-0 thrashing of Southampton in the weekend with braces from Mason Mount, Timo Werner and goals apiece from Kai Havertz and Marcos Alonso. The Blues will be high on confidence going into the clash against the Spanish giants.
Whilst Real Madrid were expected to struggle with the physicality of Tuchel’s men in the first leg, the Blues simply did not turn up and let Los Blancos dominate the tie. Speaking about the aspect of physicality, the German manager said that Real Madrid have an advantage due to the ability to make five changes throughout the season.
“First of all, we wanted it more physical, we did not work hard enough. We did not work intensely enough in the first match. Second of all, we faced a huge disadvantage in terms of physicality because Real Madrid played the whole year with five changes and we play the most demanding league and played the most matches throughout the season. It’s not always easy to play a physical game.”
Premier League teams such as Chelsea are only allowed to make three changes in a game. This has a direct impact on the team’s overall fitness because the manager cannot take more than 3 players off the pitch- something that the La Liga teams can do.
This, however, is set to change next season as PL will also make way for 5 subs. Travelling to the Spanish capital, Tuchel knows he has an almost impossible task on his hands. Real Madrid are not an easy nut to crack.
Having a 2 goal advantage and with a voracious Bernabeau behind them, the atmosphere is not going to do Chelsea any favours. Despite scoring six in the weekend, Chelsea have struggled to be clinical in front of goal and in a clash of this magnitude where chances come at a premium, the Blues cannot afford to squander their opportunities.
There is no clear idea of who is going to line up in the attacking areas for Chelsea. Whilst Mason Mount and Kai Havertz are expected to be automatic shoe-ins, the third spot could go to Timo Werner, who is coming off probably his best game in a Blue shirt, Christian Pulisic or Hakim Ziyech.
Tuchel will also want his defence to step up and get back to their absolute best today. Scoring goals is important but not letting Ancelotti’s men score more is also essential. A lot of factors will have to work out perfectly if Chelsea are to win today.
When the Blues take the pitch against Real Madrid, they know the enormity of the task that lies ahead of them. However, crazier things have happened in the past and if Tuchel manages to script the unthinkable, Chelsea could add a page to the book of fabled Champion League comebacks.
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