‘That was the game plan’: Rudiger says Chelsea targeted one Real Madrid player last night

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Antonio Rudiger revealed that part of Chelsea’s strategy against Real Madrid was to attack the gaps behind Casemiro.

As quoted by the club website, Rudiger explained the tactics ordered by Thomas Tuchel for last night’s Champions League clash at the Bernabeu.

Whatever Tuchel told his players before the game, it certainly worked.

Chelsea chose Casemiro

Chelsea rushed out of the blocks, eager to rid the memory of Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

He decided to shift from a back three to a back four, filling the midfield with an extra body, thus giving the full-backs extra freedom to advance.

Unlike in the first leg, they hurried and hassled Madrid with real intent, reaping the rewards of such pressure.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men were forced to drop deep, inviting pressure from their Premier League opponents.

A quick passing move in the first half allowed Mason Mount to smash one past Thibaut Courtois just inside the penalty area.

The space opened up for the England international because Casemiro had engaged Mateo Kovacic, leaving plenty of green grass for Ruben Loftus-Cheek to drift into.

Loftus-Cheek teed up Timo Werner, who in turn fed Mount and the rest was down to the 23-year-old.

Rudiger almost perfectly summarised this sequence when speaking about Tuchel’s master design

“That was the game plan, to find our No10s Ruben and Mason, behind Casemiro always to find the space,” said the defender.

“Mason found it, he got the goal and we controlled it. We didn’t panic or anything like this, I think we did it quite well and in the second half we scored goals and did everything we could.

“I think we found space between the defence and Casemiro. That was the plan and we got in those positions and Timo Werner, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz were very dangerous.”

Tuchel’s methods work a treat against Madrid

Chelsea continued to pinpoint Casemiro throughout the match, creating two massive chances because of it.

Marcos Alonso’s disallowed goal began with a driving run from N’Golo Kante, through the area usually occupied by Madrid’s defensive midfielder.

Timo Werner’s allowed goal occurred when Alonso pulled Nacho out of position, freeing up space behind the defensive line.

Casemiro then had to come across to cover, but was sent sprawling on the surface as Werner fainted inside and struck a deflected shot into the net.

However, for all Chelsea’s good work, they still ended up losing.

Madrid managed to find two more goals either side of extra time, from Rodrygo and Karim Benzema.

Tuchel certainly won the battle, but Ancelotti sadly won the war.

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