Real Madrid could not complete the comeback in London against Chelsea, in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals. He fell clearly (2-0) and can be thankful that he was alive in the tie until Mount made the second of the 'blues' at 85'; Chelsea collected a good number of chances and only Courtois prevented Madrid from leaving England, in addition to being eliminated, thrashed. The Belgian goalkeeper is clearly the member of the Madrid expedition that leaves this Champions League with the best note; Among those who border on suspense or fully inhabit it are several players and, also, Zidane. The white manager, who in recent weeks was promoted as a good group manager (it was already known) and as a skilled user of the tactic, leaves Stamford Bridge after having thrown the worst blur of his career.
The weeks leading up to the tie against Chelsea filled Zizou with deserved praise.. He fulminated Atalanta with his system of three centrals and two lanes, with which he calmed down the offensive power of the Dea and still took advantage of its defensive weaknesses; he beat Barcelona in Valdebebas with Valverde as a lever for the attacks on the counterattack, floating between the midfield and the lead; and liquidated Liverpool in the first leg of the quarter, taking advantage of the spaces behind the 'reds' sides and getting the best possible out of Vinicius. But in London he hit it without remedy, as it already happened in part in the first leg.
In Valdebebas, he had a drawing with three centrals and two lanes forced by the casualties, but in the first half he tried high pressure, removing Casemiro from the site, who unraveled Madrid's inner game. SIn the background or ability to steal in the Chelsea field, Tuchel's men entered the Madrid area several times in the first half and Madrid was able to thank that only Pulisic checked in that day. Benzema equalized in a brilliant flash and in the second half Zidane rectified, embedded Casemiro in front of the centrals and Madrid barely attacked, but he protected himself wonderfully and trusted everything on the return. However, in London the disaster was greater.
Ramos, Hazard, Mendy …
Starting with the choice of actors. Determined to leave with three centrals, he lined up a Ramos who arrived after having played only four games and 304 minutes in 2021, the result of repeated injuries. In a Madrid that did not know how to contain the fast connections of Chelsea in the attack zone (only the poor aim of the Londoners prevented a result for the black history of the white club), the Sevillian center-back was the most misplaced of the three. He also came out with Hazard in the attack accompanying Benzema and moving Vinicius to a lane; The Belgian needs minutes to return to being at least a fraction of what he was, there is no doubt, but this opportunity on an important day, as happened last year in Manchester, sounded more like a prize without acquired merits than anything else. And Hazard, once again, made water, to which he then added his laughter with Zouma after the elimination, which have ignited the Madrid fans.
Zidane's efforts at 5-3-2 did not sound right for a team that needed to win or draw by two or more goals to get through the tie without the need for extra time.. He had an eleven with the ability to play with a 4-3-3 that was a clear warning message to Chelsea … but he twisted it to the limit by placing Vinicius on the right lane and moving him away from the offensive zone of influence, wearing him out on tasks inappropriate for the Brazilian and renouncing the freshness of the best dribbler that the white squad has. He believed that Benzema and Hazard would be enough to threaten the Chelsea defense, the most intoned in Europe at the moment, but only the Frenchman appeared with two good shots that Mendy repelled.
Zidane, during Chelsea-Real Madrid.
AFP
Zidane certified one day to forget with the changes, which far from contributing reduced weight to the team; the second half was much worse for Madrid's interests than the first. His first foray into the duel was to remove Mendy (another without rhythm, although the alternative was a Marcelo who suffers against mid-table teams in Spain) and Vinicius to put Valverde and Asensio; was put by post in both cases, changed two lanes to put two lanes, with the addition that in this case it placed a middle and an end. He was looking for energy, even with the Uruguayan fresh out of COVID-19, but in return he gave up depth.
La Liga, a lifeline
Then he introduced Rodrygo, who in front of Osasuna showed enough inspiration to have enjoyed more than 15 minutes, but he removed Casemiro, completely unraveling the core. ANDhe Chelsea began to pass unopposed through the Madrid midfield, Kanté multiplied and eventually ended up reaching 2-0, after a steal from the French. Modric and Kroos, still exhausted despite the break against Osasuna on the last day of the League, were buried by the energies of the little Frenchman. It sounded ugly to introduce Mariano in 89 ', with 2-0 and the elimination consummated, to play a few minutes that were not going to contribute to either Madrid or the Spanish-Dominican forward.
However, Zidane still has the opportunity to close the course with a note. He has led Madrid to the semifinals of the Champions League when no one believed the white team capable of getting among the four best in Europe; until 85 'of the second leg, Madrid was one goal away from forcing extra time and, who knows, penalties at the end of it. And he is left with the League, a title that he already conquered last year and in which the white options are intact.: it is second, two points behind Atleti, who this Saturday plays at the Camp Nou against Barça, third with the same points as Madrid (72). A draw or a culé triumph could lead Madrid to the leadership, although for this they must prevail on Sunday at Sevilla, fourth in the table. Madrid has the goal-average won over Atleti and Barcelona, and beat Sevilla 0-1 in the first leg. If he wins the remaining four days, it is feasible to imagine him as a champion, which would largely restore the image of a Zidane who left London very touched.