Champions League: Tuchel Rues Missed Chances As Madrid Hold Chelsea

Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel believes his side should have wrapped up their Champions League semi-final first leg with Real Madrid in the first half on Tuesday as he rues missed chances in the 1-1 draw.

U.S. playmaker Christian Pulisic fired Chelsea in front in the 14th minute in the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium, and the visitors peppered their opponents’ goal in a dizzying opening half-hour.

But their inability to score a second away goal proved costly as Karim Benzema’s superb volley levelled things up before the break with his side’s only shot on target in the opening period.

Commenting after the game, Tuchel told the BBC, “I have a feeling we should have won the first half and we could have perhaps decided this game in the first half an hour when we were playing so strong.”

“The second half was a tactical game and you could feel we only had two days in between two away games which made it physically and mentally demanding and you could feel it in the decision making.

“We suffered a bit and an extra day would have been nice.”

Tuchel continued his fine record against Zinedine Zidane’s side in Europe’s premier club competition – the German is the only manager to face Real as many as five times without ever losing in Champions League history.

Having scored the away goal, Chelsea are in the driving seat to reach a first Champions League final since 2012 ahead of next week’s return leg at Stamford Bridge.