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.
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"It is unbelievable. We were dead until the goal we scored," he told BT Sport. "Chelsea scored three good goals. I cannot say we played a bad game, they used their chances well.
"For me Chelsea are the most difficult to play against, tough, physical and compact. But we showed great character and desire. It is a defeat that feels very sweet!"
Modric then took to Twitter to send an emphatic statement after the game. He tweeted: "Giving up is not an option."
The Blues will have little time to process their heart-breaking exit from Europe with an FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace to prepare for on Sunday. The winners will meet Manchester City or Liverpool in the final on May 14.
