A triumph full of Chelsea swagger
This could be another one of those years. The competition gets much harder from here, of course, but the ease with which all three English clubs have progressed to the Champions League’s last eight again makes the Premier League’s elite a force to be reckoned with in Europe this season.
Chelsea had the toughest opponents out of the surviving three, but La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid proved no match. Thomas Tuchel’s side won by a greater scoreline at home than they did away — albeit in a neutral venue — and this was arguably the more impressive victory.
Atletico arrived knowing precisely what they had to do, yet could not do it. By the end, their frustration boiled over. stefan savic was dismissed with a straight red card for elbowing Antonio Rudiger in the ribs, a further four players were booked.
Chelsea avoided trouble and will be at full strength for their first quarter-final tie.
‘it was a very good performance with unbelievable effort and you could feel we totally wanted it,’ said Chelsea boss Tuchel.
‘They tried to pressure us high in the first half but opened up some spaces in midfield and we could exploit it.
‘in the second half there were minutes where we suffered but we were ready to do what was necessary to win. Quarter-finals is a big step. it feels excellent.’
Tuchel is still unbeaten and going into an FA Cup quarter-final at home to sheffield United on sunday, this could turn out to be quite the season. Their German boss has them tight and disciplined, and merely needs to add goals in greater quantity.
Chelsea have a lively forward line now, but not a prolific one, and last night illustrated that. They could have put this tie away early in the second-half but were never truly allowed to feel safe, even when Atletico needed two goals in five extra-time minutes. stranger things have happened in this competition.
instead, it was Chelsea who doubled their lead. Emerson (above) had only been on a matter of minutes but he finished another counter-attack started by a break from fellow substitute Christian Pulisic to give the aggregate score an emphatic air.
Their first goal was one that smelled of money. specifically of the many millions invested on forwards last summer. They were all involved: Timo Werner, Kai havertz and Ziyech. And Tuchel, of course. The manager charged with finding a way to make this triumvirate work in a way Frank Lampard could not.
his brief time at the club so far has been a triumph of defensive strategising. Chelsea have a penchant for single-goal victories that would make George Graham proud. Yet, with their opener, we got a glimpse of what Chelsea’s recruiters, and the man who finances them, envisaged.
The goal that left Atletico with an uphill trudge actually came from one of their free-kicks. Given how Diego simeone’s teams often play in Europe, there was a real irony in seeing them struck so masterfully on the counter-attack.
it was Werner who made the initial clearance, recovering and speeding upfield in time to be put in by havertz, who led the break.
Atletico had no time to regroup and were exposed when Werner crossed to Ziyech at the far post. his finish was straight at keeper Jan Oblak, who was struggling to get set and watched the ball pass awkwardly under his body.
it was a rare error from a usually outstanding performer but it was no more than Chelsea deserved. They dominated possession and showed no signs of merely wishing to defend their first-leg lead. And no wonder. Chelsea had led from an away first leg in 13 European ties, and had never failed to progress. Playing their normal game was very much Plan A.
italian referee Daniele Orsato waved away a worthwhile appeal that could have given Atletico the lead in the 26th minute — eight minutes before Chelsea scored — when Cesar Azpilicueta pulled back Yannick Carrasco. it certainly looked illegal but did not even get referred to VAR.
soon, Chelsea were in charge — 2-0 ahead on aggregate and safe unless Atletico scored twice. They had several chances to put the tie away, too.
Mateo Kovacic curled a shot just wide after 44 minutes and Chelsea went close at the start of the second half, too.
Ziyech put Werner away but Oblak was equal to the shot, then Ziyech had a shot tipped over by Oblak.
By the time Luis suarez was removed after 59 minutes, Atletico looked increasingly deflated. Chelsea did a fine job on them. Given what we remember of the equivalent stage last year, that is no mean feat.