Blues blank Madrid to set up all-English final
London, May 6: Chelsea set up an all-English Champions League final against Manchester City as goals from Timo Werner and Mason Mount beat Real Madrid 2-0 in a dominant display on Wednesday to seal a 31 aggregate victory at Stamford Bridge.
If anything, the scoreline flattered Madrid as the 13-time European champions had no response to Chelsea’s greater strength and speed.
The Blues should have ran out far more convincing winners as they toyed with the tired visitors in the second half.
However, Werner’s cushioned header into an empty net on 28 minutes after Kai Havertz’s initial effort came back off the crossbar and Mount’s tap-in five minutes from time were enough to seal their place in Istanbul on May 29. “To never lose the concentration, focus and positive energy on the pitch — it was a huge performance and well deserved,” said Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, who has masterminded a huge turnaround in Chelsea’s season since replacing the sacked Frank Lampard in January.
Backed by Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, Chelsea’s £220 million spending spree last summer has been rewarded with a first Champions League final since they lifted the trophy for the only time in 2012.
“We never lost the hunger, the desire to defend,” added Tuchel.
“In the second half we had even better structure to defend and it was a fantastic performance.
“We could have scored so much earlier and more to be safe, but it’s no time for criticism now. It’s a fantastic achievement and big congratulations to the team.”
Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane welcomed back captain Sergio Ramos for the first time in six weeks, while Eden Hazard was handed a rare start in an injuryhit season on his return to Stamford Bridge.
But the Belgian was again a peripheral figure as Madrid’s overreliance on Karim Benzema to provide a goal threat was exposed.
“We needed to be better going forward,” said Zidane.