Thomas Tuchel says Chelsea’s Champions League exit to Real Madrid was both ‘a huge boost’ and ‘a disappointment’ to side side.
Chelsea were eliminated in the Champions League’s quarter-finals in midweek, though produced a brilliant performance to win 3-2 at Real Madrid in the second leg of their tie.
The West Londoners turned the game around after a first leg defeat at Stamford Bridge, before bowing out after Karim Benzema’s goal proved the difference in extra time.
Tuchel admits his side’s exit from the Champions League was a disappointment given how close the club came to rescuing the tie, but says his side’s showing has increased confidence ahead of an FA Cup semi-final with Crystal Palace on Sunday.
“We are all a bit inbetween. Confidence wise, I think it’s a huge boost but it’s a disappointment to go out of the Champions League at the quarter-final. Not in a big drama, but it’s still a disappointment because we feel we could’ve been one of the four teams in the semi-final,” he told his pre-match press conference.
“It was a fantastic performance at the Bernabeu and it stays like this. But it feels a bit bitter. Too many mistakes got punished by individual quality.
“We’ve got some training time now before our Sunday match and we will use it to sweat it out and be ready for Sunday.”
Chelsea’s clash with the Eagles at Wembley is their fifth fixture in a hectic April period, with huge Premier League clashes with Arsenal and West Ham to come before the end of the month.
It is the latest demanding period of a season in which the Blues have juggled commitments, having also reached the Carabao Cup final and competed in both the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.
The German admitted Chelsea’s schedule has proven demanding but accepts increased games is a result of success.
“It’s very difficult and demanding. We just had a look after the game at the minutes played this season and we are by far the team that played the most minutes. We added some minutes with extra times so this adds up. It’s pretty demanding but it’s what you sign up for.”
