洛夫圖斯奇克：我們展現了實力，對於出局非常失望 - 切爾西足球俱樂部 Chelsea Football Club

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2022/04/14/
loftus-cheek--a-tough-one-to-take-but-we-can-be-proud

Loftus-Cheek: A tough one to take but we can be proud

14 Apr 2022


Ruben Loftus-Cheek has said that Chelsea should be proud of our
performance against Real Madrid on Tuesday evening but admits the
overriding feeling was one of disappointment not to have progressed to the
semi-final stage of the Champions League.


https://i.imgur.com/WLxFou9.jpg


The Blues were so close to pulling off one of the greatest ever comebacks
in Europe's premier club competition, having gone 3-0 up at the Santiago
Bernabeu to make it 4-3 on aggregate before eventually being edged out in
extra-time by Carlo Ancelotti's side.


Goals from Mason Mount, Toni Rudiger and Timo Werner, which came shortly
after Marcos Alonso saw a strike harshly ruled out by VAR for handball,
had Thomas Tuchel's Blues in the driving seat in the Spanish capital
before Rodrygo pulled a goal back for the hosts to send the tie into
extra-time, where Karim Benzema headed home the winner.


It was certainly cruel on Chelsea, who dominated the game throughout, and
while disappointed to exit the competition we won in May, Loftus-Cheek
feels we can hold our heads high for the way we took the game to the
Spaniards.


'We had full belief that we could pull the tie back and I think that
showed in our performance, because we were excellent for the most part,'
said Loftus-Cheek when analysing the fixture as a whole.


'To bring the game back and have it in our hands only for it to be taken
away from us is very disappointing. We are proud of our performance but
the overriding feeling in the dressing room is definitely one of
disappointment because of the start we had.


'Fair play to Real Madrid, they took their chances and when you have a
striker like Benzema it's tough because if he gets a chance then he takes
it. We were playing against a top team who can punish you and that's what
happened in extra-time.'


The handball signalled by VAR in the build-up to Alonso's goal against his
former side was a key talking point after the game, with many pundits
feeling that our left-back could do nothing about the ball being smashed
against his hand from close range.


Loftus-Cheek felt in real-time that there wasn't a foul, but believes we
had enough chances throughout the game and in extra-time to have scored
more and that we can't look back at this moment and single it out.


'I haven't watched it back yet but I didn't see a handball from Marcos in
real time,' the midfielder added. 'I'll have to look at the replay again
before making judgement.


https://i.imgur.com/gY62a74.jpg
Alonso's celebrations were cut short by VAR


'We had some chances in extra-time but this is football. On another day,
we put those in the back of the net and go through. We can feel proud. The
disappointment will be at the forefront right now because it's fresh and
it's hard to take that we're out of the Champions League having played so
well.


'Once things blow over, I think we will all feel proud for the way we've
performed. It's just hard to take right now. We've got another big game
just around the corner to prepare for, an FA Cup semi-final, and we have
to be ready for that.'


The England international was also asked whether the ongoing sale of the
club had an impact on the players leading into the game, with Loftus-Cheek
quick to insist that he and his team-mates are able to shut out external
noises and focus on the task in hand.


'We try not to think about the off-field things too much to be honest,
especially when you have a game of this magnitude to focus on,' he said.


'From now until the end of the season, we've got some really big games
coming up and we can't afford to have our minds on other things. We will
stay tight as group and that's why we are able to focus on the task ahead
and putting in strong performances like we've shown recently.'

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When it comes to a crisis, still keep on running.

You believe in power. It's mental power.


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