Champions League: Chelsea In Last Eight
Thomas Tuchel wants Chelsea to be the side everyone wants to avoid in the Champions League quarter-final draw after the holders beat Lille at a lively Stade Pierre-Mauroy to secure a 4-1 aggregate win.
The Blues took a 2-0 first-leg lead to France but, in a match played amid continued uncertainty over the club’s future, they had to come from behind after a slow start to earn success in the return.
Burak Yilmaz pulled Lille back into the tie with a penalty after Jorginho handled, only for Christian Pulisic to reply in first-half injury time.
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta then put the last-16 encounter beyond the French champions when he finished at the back post with 19 minutes remaining.
Tuchel’s side will find out their last-eight opponents in Friday’s draw.
“I want us to be the team nobody wants to play,” said Tuchel. “That’s the role we see ourselves in this last round of eight.
“It’s a big step to do it again and again – and that is why we fight for top-four places in maybe the toughest league in the world and we fight now again in the top eight teams [in Europe].
“This brings out the very best in us.”
