Enrique Rubio London, 18 Mar Nobody expects Chelsea to have to travel to Madrid on board a bus driven by Thomas Tuchel, but the coach's offer to get behind the wheel of a coach if his club does not have money for a plane illustrates well the turbulent moment that the London entity is going through. A year after having left Real Madrid in the semifinals and subsequently winning the Champions League, the draw crossed both teams again, this time in a previous round. Concha Espina's team, euphoric after their historic comeback against PSG, will seek to repeat semifinals - and, why not, something else - against another of the continent's newly disgraced rich. The West London team is on sale after the United Kingdom sanctioned its hitherto owner, Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. In recent days, the club has run out of credit cards. It cannot even generate income from the sale of tickets at the ancient Stamford Bridge, where the first leg will be played, unlike last season where it hosted the return, without an audience due to the pandemic. This whole state of internal combustion has not been translated, at least for the time being, on the pitch. And that had a lot to do with the figure of Tuchel, whose size skyrocketed in a club that professed devotion to Abramovich and found himself orphaned after his departure. His commitment to the team in stating that, no matter what happened, he would remain in his position, has been an injection of encouragement and stability in all levels. In Europe, Chelsea dispatched Lille with great solvency in the round of 16, winning in both matches, and in the Premier League they march in a comfortable third place, away from Manchester City and Liverpool but also with eight points ahead of the fourth, Arsenal. The Blues have not lost a match since January 15, and they carburize again after a somewhat doubtful start to the season. The block is essentially the same one that passed over Real Madrid in the tie a year ago (1-1 and 2-0), with the addition of a Romelu Lukaku who has not yet found his place in London and with whose departure there is no more speculation. Meanwhile, the young “Blues” pearls continue to bloom. In the qualifying round against Lille, Christian Pulisic, who scored two goals in the back and forth, stood out especially. At 23, everything is still expected from the American jewel, which only irregularity has so far deprived of taking a step forward with the greats of football. Another promise, German Kai Havertz, has already shown what he is capable of against Madrid in the last semifinals and is on his way to stardom. Despite everything, the soul of this team is still its captain, Navarrese César Azpilicueta, who has become a Chelsea legend and whose future is still in the air due to an automatic renewal clause that would make it difficult to sign for FC Barcelona. The ex-osasunista scored one of two goals against Lille and will lead a blended and granitic defense, which is well complemented by the hardworking and efficient midfield led by Italian Jorginho and Frenchman Ngolo Kanté and with an Edouard Mendy who offers full guarantees in the goal. Madrid is well aware of the physical demands of facing a team that is very well worked out tactically and with plenty of lungs. It remains to be seen whether the problems affecting the London entity will eventually affect its sporting performance or whether it will again be a tough nut to crack for whites. CHIEF er/og
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