The highly anticipated Champions League quarterfinals match between Real Madrid and Chelsea is set to take place, with all eyes on the coaches. Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s interim coach, is looking for his first win since taking over, while Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid’s coach, is surrounded by doubts about his future amid rumors of him taking over Brazil’s national team.
There is a possibility that the result of the match may assist Lampard in securing a permanent position with Chelsea or sway Ancelotti’s determination regarding accepting the Brazil job. Both coaches are under pressure to deliver a strong performance and keep their team’s hopes alive in the competition.
Madrid is coming off a 3-2 home loss to Villarreal, leaving its hopes of winning the Spanish league all-but-ended. They will be looking to bounce back and prove their worth in the Champions League. Chelsea enters the match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on a four-match winless run and will be hoping to turn their fortunes around.
Recent History Between the Two Teams
The last two Champions League winners, Madrid and Chelsea, have gotten used to facing each other in the knockout stages of the competition recently. In 2018, Madrid knocked out Chelsea in the semifinals on their way to winning their third consecutive Champions League trophy. The two teams also faced each other in the group stage of the 2019-2020 season, with each team winning their respective home matches.
In the event of a victory, the team that emerges as the winner of the series will confront either Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the semifinals. Both teams are considered to be strong contenders for the Champions League title and will be a tough challenge for either Madrid or Chelsea.
Coaches Under Pressure
Lampard’s future at Chelsea has been in doubt since the team’s recent poor run of form. He was appointed as the interim coach in January following the sacking of former coach, Maurizio Sarri. Lampard has been given the task of rebuilding the team and bringing in young talent. However, recent results have not been up to par, and Lampard will be under pressure to deliver a strong performance against Madrid.
Ancelotti, on the other hand, has been rumored to be a potential replacement for Brazil’s national team coach, Tite. Ancelotti has denied the rumors, but the speculation has continued to swirl. Madrid’s recent loss to Villarreal has added to the pressure on Ancelotti, and a strong performance in the Champions League could help his case for staying on as coach.
