$200M trio combines to send Chelsea into CL quarterfinals
LONDON – A goal combination featuring more than $200 million of summer signings symbolized the Chelsea revival under Thomas Tuchel.
Kai Havertz and Timo Werner launched a counterattack. Hakim Ziyech applied the finishing touch.
If only Frank Lampard had managed to get the best out of his lavishly-funded attacking recruits it might be him and not Tuchel leading Chelsea into its first Champions League quarterfinal in seven years.
Ziyech’s goal after 34 minutes against Atletico Madrid built on Chelsea’s 1-0 first-leg lead and Emerson Palmieri netted in stoppage time to seal a 3-0 aggregate win on Wednesday.
While a goal from the defender is a more expected rarity – this was only Emerson’s
second in three years at Chelsea – a goal drought since October was a startling anomaly for Ziyech.
And yet Tuchel still entrusted the Morocco winger with being part of the front three against the Spanish leaders because of his experience of reaching the Champions League semifinals in 2019 with Ajax, a year before his 40 million euro transfer.
“He knows how it feels to arrive in the knockout round and go through to the last eight,” Tuchel said. “We missed Mason Mount and we wanted to replace his work-rate and intensity with Hakim because we knew we faced a midfield of three with a lot of quality.
“Maybe he suffers a bit to adapt to our style because he loves to play creative and he needs to adapt to the structure but he gives a very reliable work-rate for the team.’
Havertz launched the breakaway after Kieran Trippier’s cross was intercepted before releasing Werner to run down the left. Werner sent the ball into the penalty area for Ziyech, who placed the shot under goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
“There were some difficult moments in the game but for most of the time we had it under control,” Ziyech said. “It was an important goal and I had to wait a long time for it.”
The win further builds on the momentum the London club has built up in the two months since Lampard was fired, with Tuchel unbeaten in 13 matches with 11 clean sheets.