Champions League – Lille vs Chelsea: The Blues despite rather worrying moments in the first half of the second leg at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy last night. They managed to take control of the tie as the game progressed.
Chelsea headed into the fixture last night with a two-goal lead from the first leg at Stamford Bridge. However, it was the hosts who took the lead on the night, through a Burak Yilmaz penalty in the 38th minute.
The Londoners managed to head into halftime level on score, thanks to Pulisic’s goal in the dying moments of the half. The American converted a scrumptious ball into the box by Jorginho.
In the 71st minute, Azpilicueta made contact from close range to guide Mount’s ball in, into the net. Thus, the match concluded 1-2, with an aggregate score of 1-4.
Champions League – Lille vs Chelsea: Managers’ react
Lille’s Jocelyn Gourvennec: “We were playing at the right level for both matches. We played the way we wanted tonight, with a huge first half. We can only regret not going into half time 1-0 up. Then there’s Xeka’s header onto the post. We really turned up, the players can be proud of what they did. The stadium was exceptional this evening, they gave us heart and courage. It’s tough to lose tonight, we didn’t deserve it. We didn’t deserve to lose, we can leave with our heads held high. We have to congratulate Chelsea considering the dramatic context for them.”
Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel: “I want us to be the team nobody wants to play. That’s the role we see ourselves in this last round of eight.
“It’s a big step to do it again and again – and that is why we fight for top-four places in maybe the toughest league in the world, and we fight now again in the top eight teams [in Europe].
“This brings out the very best in us.”
