Thomas Tuchel reportedly focused largely on Chelsea’s pressing in a team meeting following the Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat to Real Madrid.
According to The Athletic, the crux of the meeting revolved around Tuchel’s team’s failure to engage appropriately with Madrid high up the field at Stamford Bridge last week.
Chelsea felt the force of their inability to prevent Carlo Ancelotti’s side from building out from the back, conceding twice from such scenarios.
As The Athletic detail, the first of the Spaniard’s goals started from N’Golo Kante deciding against tracking Toni Kroos towards the German’s own penalty box.
Kroos then passed to Eder Militao on the right, who in turn fed Casemiro, before Kroos received the ball again.
This relatively simple passage of play disrupted Chelsea’s shape, allowing spaces to appear for Madrid and eventually a route to Edouard Mendy’s net.
Madrid double their advantage
Karim Benzema’s second also began with a disordered press from the home team.
Mason Mount charged down Ferland Mendy near the corner flag, forcing the defender to play a pass inside rather than down the channel.
Unfortunately, Kai Havertz anticipated a ball back to Thibaut Courtois, leaving Casemiro unchallenged in the middle of the park.
Casemiro advanced the attack by quickly shifting possession onto Luka Modric.
The elegant midfielder passed to Fede Valverde, with Dani Carvajal overlapping on the right.
Recognising the numerical imbalance, Jorginho shuffled over to cover Cesar Azpilicueta, subsequently allowing Modric the space to cross onto Benzema’s head.
No more mistakes
Chelsea cannot afford to be so incohesive at the Bernabeu this evening, otherwise, they can wave goodbye to their European crown.
Due to being 3-1 down from the opening exchange, they will have little choice but to press Madrid at every available opportunity.
However, get it wrong and the likes of Modric and Kroos could have a field day.
Hence why Kante, Mateo Kovacic and all of the forwards must summon every ounce of energy to run, chase and hunt until their legs give way.
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