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Kovacic determined to lift Blues
Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic says a team meeting took place following defeats against Brentford and Real Madrid — and it has the Blues dreaming of overturning their two-goal deficit at the Bernabeu tonight.
The West Londoners face an uphill battle in their Champions League quarter-final second leg after a Karim Benzema hat-trick inspired Real to a 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.
That loss followed a shock 4-1 reverse by Brentford just four days earlier — though they have since responded with a morale-boosting 6-0 win over Southampton.
And revealing that some home truths were told following those back-to-back setbacks, the Croatian said: “It was a good meeting which is always important, as it gave us a good lift.
“We were ready for the game against Southampton and we need to do the same [against Real].
“Of course, we have our chances and we’re motivated to show our best.
“We didn’t have our best game and the result was not good in the last game but there is hope. It will be a quality game and we’re looking forward to it.
“There have been many comebacks and I was included in one. In the 2015-16 season, we [Real Madrid] lost the first game 2-0 at Wolfsburg and we came to the Bernabeu and we won 3-0.
“I also saw the other day the game when Chelsea played against Napoli. We lost 3-1 at Napoli and at Stamford Bridge we came back [to win 5-4 on aggregate].
“Football is always surprising and of course we need to be ready more than 100% to be able to complete a comeback.”
Ancelotti braced for Chelsea reaction
Real manager Carlo Ancelotti has countered claims made by Thomas Tuchel that their Champions League quarter-final is already decided.
Following the 3-1 first-leg defeat at Stamford Bridge last week, the Blues boss described hopes of rescuing the tie as an “impossible task”.
But Ancelotti is braced for a reaction from his former club and says there is still work to do — with Kai Havertz’s header meaning only two goals separate the sides.
The Italian has backed his team to see the job through and seal a place in the semi-final this evening.
The 62-year-old said: “Chelsea will come here to rescue the tie, I have no doubt about it.
“He [Tuchel] can say whatever he wants but I’m sure Chelsea will come here to win — that’s the spirit of football, the spirit of big clubs and great players, to never give up.
“I’m lucky to have a group of players that know these types of games really well, that anything can happen. They are in a good spirit and happy with the opportunity to reach a Champions League semi-final.
“But Chelsea are a very strong rival. We have to have a lot of respect and we’re going to have it.”
