Chelsea's reign as European champions came to an agonising end despite beating Real Madrid on a night of high drama at the Bernabeu Stadium.
European and World Champions Chelsea may have been booted out of the Champions League this season, but the Blues' spirited performance has won the hearts of football enthusiasts worldwide.
Thomas Tuchel's men put on a courageous display at Bernabeu Stadium, turning the table on their 3-1 first-leg deficit to inch ahead 4-3 on aggregate. However, Real Madrid winger Rodrygo's equaliser took the clash into extra time before an in-form Karim Benzema slammed another header to sink Chelsea.
Chelsea was outstanding throughout the game, but the decisive goal in the 96th minute by the first-leg hat-trick scorer Benzema sent Real Madrid through the semi-finals with a 5-4 aggregate.
Also read: Villarreal heroes party hard after knocking Bayern Munich out of Champions League
In the end, Chelsea, who played superbly, fell just short of producing one of the greatest comebacks in the competition. Following this shocking exit from Europe's elite football competition, former players, fans and football pundits took to Twitter to heap praises on Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.
One such player was former Chelsea legend Cesc Fabrega who said, "Whatever happens. @ChelseaFC are blessed with Thomas Tuchel. What a manager."
Whatever happens. are blessed with Thomas Tuchel. What a manager.
— Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official)Everything I love about Tuchel, in one photo.
He could actually be chanting 'Carefree...'
In addition to being an elite coach, Chelsea clearly matters immensely to him. I hope the new owners offer TT an improved deal & stick to it. He can do amazing things developing the team.👊 pic.twitter.com/VXe7YezicN
Thomas Tuchel is A Master Tactician, Chelsea is in Safe hands pic.twitter.com/UtF6cv4Gbw
— Rex🌐👑 (@RexfordKingsley)Time to be proud for Chelsea. Top performance, incredible reaction and again credits to Thomas Tuchel. Almost two months with no ownership and under sanction - never easy. 🔵
… and what a player, Toni Rüdiger. More than a centre back. Pure leadership. pic.twitter.com/QSBLI4Qd0i
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤. pic.twitter.com/N3lWG1S7oh
— LDN (@LDNFootbalI)FT: Real Madrid 2-3 Chelsea (5-4)
That was one of our best performances under Tuchel. Everyone gave 100% and played out of their skin. Rudiger gets my MOTM. He was phenomenal all game. Gutted to go out, but extremely proud of this club and them players nonetheless 💙 pic.twitter.com/BoYLuJYJUV
Asked yesterday how champions should bow out if it was to be the end of their CL defence, Tuchel replied: "By not accepting it before it ends... & by leaving everything on the pitch that we have... & that we show our true face and live up to our full potential."
Chelsea did that.
Thomas Tuchel is the best in the world. Best Chelsea manager ever man.
— Conn (@ConnCFC)Real Madrid advance to the semis of the UCL while Chelsea advance to the Thomas-Tuchel-is-a-superb-manager-dont-sack-him stage.
— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith)When Eden Hazard was at Chelsea, his presence on the pitch gives me at least 75% confidence that we'll win.
The only person that gives me that level of confidence in this Chelsea team is Thomas Tuchel.
It took Chelsea Football Club 9 years to win the Champions League for the second time (2012/2021)
If we keep strengthening + developing with Thomas Tuchel in charge, I have no doubt that it won't take another 9 years to lift it again.
The future is bright for this team 👍🔵 pic.twitter.com/3a4ALe2c6c
PROUD OF THIS TEAM.
PROUD OF THOMAS TUCHEL.
PROUD TO BE A CHELSEA FAN.
WE'LL RISE AGAIN. 👊💙 pic.twitter.com/GHEd5ux1yP
Give Thomas Tuchel everything he wants to improve this Chelsea side and give Antonio Rudiger anything he wants to sign that contract.
The master tactician and his mightiest warrior. Leaders on and off the pitch. With the right backing, we will be competing for all the trophies pic.twitter.com/3bt0btxsSR
Tuchel my manager. Thank you for coming to Chelsea football club. We love you 💙💙💙 pic.twitter.com/isMixuyPSk
— Titilope💙🧁✨ (@Ajao42024085)Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was furious over a decision made by VAR to rule out a second-half goal for Chelsea when Marcos Alonso was adjudged to have handled it before smashing the ball past Thibaut Courtois.
Referee Szymon Marciniak ruled the goal out without checking the VAR monitor, with Tuchel claiming that officials do not have the "courage" to give decisions against Real Madrid.
But it was the official's joyful moment with Carlos Ancelotti that enraged the German the most at full-time.
🗣 "You go as a coach and see the referee smiling and laughing with the other coach, I think it's very very bad timing"
Tuchel disappointed by referee after Chelsea's defeat to Real Madrid 👇pic.twitter.com/ZzualuVqt2
Tuchel, however, was full of praise for his Chelsea side after the match and admitted this defeat is easier to take given the performances put in by his players.
"These are the kind of defeats we can digest and swallow. We left nothing to regret out there. We played what we wanted to play, with the quality and the character this team has. We deserved to go through, we were simply unlucky, and it wasn't to be," the German stated.
"The most important thing is how we play and the input from the players. The full credit is for the players. You need to score and win and do it over the 90 mins. We were unlucky not to go through," Tuchel concluded.