13 unbeaten matches, Six straight clean sheets, and just two goals conceded under Thomas Tuchel, and into their first Champions League quarter-final for seven years. – By Madellene Kalunda.
Ziyech’s goal after 34 minutes against Atletico Madrid built on Chelsea’s 1-0 first-leg lead and Emerson Palmieri netted in stoppage time to seal a 3-0 aggregate win on Wednesday.
This was only Emerson’s second goal in three years at Chelsea, a goal drought since October.
And yet Tuchel still entrusted the Morocco winger with being part of the front three against the Spanish leaders because of his experience of reaching the Champions League semifinals in 2019 with Ajax, a year before before his 40 million euro transfer.
Though the truest heroes of this victory were Antonio Rudiger and N’Golo Kante. Kante’s passing, his movement, his speed of thought, were of the highest quality in a virtually flawless display.

Tuchel’s restoration of Rudiger into a three-man central defence has been key. Rudiger had been frozen out by Lampard, a decision which appears more daft by the week.
Chelsea, missing the suspended Mason Mount and Jorginho, were front-footed and lively from the off, their wing-backs high up the pitch.
Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, have never looked further away from the trophy that Diego Simeone wants most. It will now be at least half a decade since their last semi-final and they have a long way to go.
One of Atletico’s lowest moment was when Stefan Savic was sent off for an elbow into the chest of Antonio Rudiger. Simeone’s side bitterly disputed that, and it wasn’t the only decision they disagreed with it.
They can now turn their attention to holding off Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, this was another disappointing exit for a club that has reached the final twice in the past decade.
Atletico’s performance showed a noticeable vulnerability in defence whenever Chelsea attacked with pace and purpose.
Tuchel has already defeated Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool but this was his most impressive work.
If only Frank Lampard had managed to get the best out of his lavishly-funded attacking recruits it might be him and not Tuchel leading Chelsea into its first Champions League quarterfinal in seven years.