Chelsea are two goals behind in their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, but midfielder Mateo Kovacic understands the tie is far from over.It is not necessary to persuade him that miracles can occur.
During the 2015/16 season, as a Real Madrid player, the Croatian midfielder helped the Spanish giants overcome a stunning 2-0 quarter-final defeat to German club Wolfsburg to reach the last four. As Chelsea prepares to bounce back from a 3-1 first-leg loss to Real Madrid last week, Kovacic believes they are facing difficult mission rather than Impossible. I'm inspired by a lot of comebacks "he stated, "In the 2015/16 season, I was involved in one when we were 2-0 down in Wolfsburg. The team won 3-0 in the Bernabeu when we returned. There are numerous ways to make a comeback. There was also the match between Chelsea and Napoli in 2012. They were defeated 3-1 by Napoli before bouncing back at Stamford Bridge. "Football is unpredictable, but we must be willing to give it our all if we are to make a comeback."Thomas Tuchel was equally pessimistic about his team's chances, saying: "Given the results of the first game, as well as the competition, the opponent, and the venue, there isn't much of a chance. We never manage our input based on the likelihood of a positive outcome. It's unlikely, but it's worth attempting, and attempting implies that we'll give it our all and play to our greatest potential. It's a big night, that's what it is."
Only five times in the history of the Champions League has a side advanced after losing the opening leg at home. Only twice before this season – Ajax's semi-final win over Panathinaikos in 1995/96 and Inter's round-of-16 win over Bayern in 2010/11 – had a team advanced following a home first-leg loss. However, in the 2018/19 round of 16, Ajax against Real Madrid and Manchester United against Paris Saint-Germain. Both did so, before Tottenham against Ajax did so in the semi-finals. Chelsea, the current defending champions, will have to overcome a Real Madrid side that has won seven of their last eight games and defeated Getafe 2-0 over the weekend to join that small but famous club.
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