Thomas Tuchel's comments on Carlo Ancelotti's influence have come back to haunt Frank Lampard as Real Madrid ran out winners over Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final.
Real Madrid won 4-0 on aggregate via two separate 2-0 wins home and away. Last season, Madrid toppled Chelsea last term en route to winning the competition outright for the 14th time in their history.
Then boss Tuchel bemoaned the way the Los Blancos manager was seen laughing and joking with the referee during the match, pointing out the influence Ancelotti has in the game and how much of a role this plays in Real winning matches.
Ancelotti and referee Szymon Marciniak were on the night spotted sharing a joke as Tuchel made his way over at full-time to shake his counterpart's hand.
In the aftermath, Tuchel claimed: "I was disappointed that the referee had a good time with Carlo. When I wanted to go and say thank you, he was smiling and laughing with the opponent's coach.
"I think this is the very wrong time to do this after the final whistle, 126 minutes of a team giving their heart. When you go and see a referee smiling and laughing with the other coach, it's bad timing. I told him this.
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"[It's] not only today. When you play against Real Madrid, maybe you don't expect everyone has the courage. I felt the little decisions in the first leg and today as well. I didn't see the goal but I am super disappointed he didn't come out and check it on its own. You should stay the boss and not give the decisions to someone in a chair and who is isolated."
The two sides met on Tuesday night and Madrid progressed yet again, only this time it was Lampard in the dugout.
The Chelsea legend has returned to west London on an interim basis until the end of the season following the sacking of Graham Potter. He was an active figure on the touchline, which was in stark contrast to his opposite number in Ancelotti.
It must be noted that Ancelotti's side did not gain any kind of advantage from beneficial calls from the officials on the night, as Madrid brushed Chelsea aside to win 2-0 at the Bridge and 4-0 on aggregate.
However, Tuchel's warning that Ancelotti exudes authority and commands respect as a result of his longevity certainly proved to be the difference for the Italian as he came up against the inexperienced Lampard.
It is unlikely that Lampard will share a similar stance to Tuchel publicly, given his stellar relationship with Ancelotti from their shared time in west London while the former was still in his playing days.
Defeat marks the end of Chelsea's hopes of securing silverware this season and there is very little chance the Blues will return to this competition next term.
