LONDON — Real Madrid’s pursuit of a 15th European Cup marches on.
LONDON — Real Madrid’s pursuit of a 15th European Cup marches on.
Chelsea, meanwhile, does not know when it will compete on this elite stage again.
Madrid’s 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday completed a 4-0 aggregate victory and saw the Spanish giants advance to the Champions League semifinals for the 11th time in 13 seasons.
Rodrygo scored twice in the second half to kill off a spirited Chelsea fightback that lasted the best part of an hour, but ultimately ended in a fourth straight loss under interim manager Frank Lampard.
Madrid can dream of more glory in a competition it has won a record 14 times, with either Manchester City or Bayern Munich to come in the next round.
“We try but we have another 180 minutes,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “We are ready to be there and we are ready to fight for the final.”
It is a different story for Chelsea as the London club’s miserable campaign is now destined to end trophyless.
Defeat left Lampard fielding questions about where the 2021 European champions go after its troubled start under new owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital and the prospect of no European soccer next season.
“People will make a lot about this season for Chelsea because we’ve had so much success,” Lampard said. “The reality is this club is going to be back, but it will take work.”
Chelsea sits 11th in the Premier League and 17 points off the top four despite spending around $630 million on new signings.
Lampard’s arrival after Graham Potter was fired this month has not prompted an upturn in form, with his team scoring just once in its four losses since his appointment.
That lack of cutting edge was evident again in the quarterfinals second leg as Chelsea missed a host of chances.
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