Luka Modric hailed Chelsea as "the most difficult side to play against" after Real Madrid knocked them out of the Champions League on Tuesday evening. Carlo Ancelotti’s side clinched a 5-4 aggregate win to set up a semi final showdown with Manchester City or Atletico Madrid.
Chelsea, who trailed 3-1 from the first leg, stormed into a 3-0 lead in the Bernabeu thanks to goals from Mason Mount, Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner. However, Rodrygo scored to level the tie on aggregate and take the game into extra time after a sublime assist from Modric.
And Los Blancos scored again through Karim Benzema in the 96th minute to seal a place in the last four of the competition. After the game Modric admitted Real were "dead" until Rodrygo’s goal and paid tribute to their opponents' remarkable grit and determination.
