The European champions need to reverse a two-goal deficit in next week’s return to the Bernabeu to stand a chance of defending their crown after Karim Benzema scored two superb headers in the first half and punished Edouard Medy’s mistake, leaving Rual 13 wins. under control. after his hat-trick in consecutive Champions League outings. The odds are stacked against Chelsea who advance to the semi-finals, with only one of the previous 43 teams losing two or more goals in a knockout draw in the Champions League overturning such an away deficit in the history of the tournament. Image: Thomas Tuchel says his full focus is on Southampton Asked if he thought the draw was still alive, Chelsea Tuhel’s boss said: “Today, this is it. [tie] alive with this show? Not right now. “We have to find ourselves again, I do not know where we are from the international break. Tonight was a replay of the second half against Brentford in the quarter-final against Real Madrid. Five days, seven goals conceded. No I do not think there is a deeper reason It ‘s worrying. “With everything the game requires, you can not expect a result from this kind of performance. We were so far from our level, regularly, individually, in form, in challenges. We tried to play in a new formation and we killed the game with a big error. Picture: Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick in Chelsea on Wednesday night “It never concerns a player or players, it’s all of us, including myself. Individually we lost shape and clarity. From the international break, we obviously do not look the same and I have no explanation. We came from a long winning streak where we really were. competitive, but the first half was not good enough “. If Chelsea make an unlikely return to next week’s rematch at the Bernabeu, Tuhel believes his side’s response to Saturday’s Premier League trip to Southampton will be crucial. “We have to prepare for Saturday against Southampton and not for [return leg at the] “Bernabeu,” said Tuhel. “If we continue to play like this, we will not get a point [at Southampton]. “I am more worried about Southampton than Real Madrid next week, that is my focus. First of all we have to play against Southampton. “If we do not straighten our heads and legs and our mentality correctly, we will not win in Southampton and then this tie is not alive. “If things change, maybe, but how many teams in world football have won with what we need, a three-goal difference? How often has this happened? Maybe it’s realistic to answer that way.”

Ancelotti: Real Madrid is lucky to have the “complete” Benzema

  Picture: Karim Benzema celebrating Real Madrid’s goal

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti praised Benzema after another victorious performance by the striker and said that his team is “lucky to have him”. Benzema became just the fourth player in the history of the Champions League to score consecutive hat-tricks in the tournament on Wednesday night, after his treble against Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round. But Ancelotti wanted to point out that it is not only his goals that set him apart. “Benzema is a really complete – not aggressive – player,” Ancelotti said after the game. “He scores a lot of goals and that is very important, but he helps the team a lot in the possession. He is always in the right place. We are very happy and lucky to have him.” Ancelotti, former Chelsea coach, refuses to underestimate the European champions for the second game. “I think Chelsea are a fantastic team, with fantastic players,” he added. “I still think the next game will be difficult against them. That’s why we are focused.”