‘Maybe one of the two goals was still possible’: Toni Kroos believes Real Madrid could have ‘pushed a little more’ to extend their 2-0 lead against 10-man Chelsea in their Champions League quarter-final first leg
Real Madrid star Toni Kroos believes the reigning European champions could have scored more goals despite leading 2-0 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Chelsea.
The holders secured a two-goal tie at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio on target.
Benzema scored from close range in the first half, before Chelsea were reduced to 10 men when Ben Chilwell was sent off for withdrawing Rodrygo when the Brazilian appeared to be racing on target.
Despite Asensio doubling the host’s advantage from a quickly taken corner, Kroos suggested that Real Madrid could have scored further goals as Chelsea had been down a man in the last 30 minutes.
That is what the 33-year-old midfielder said CBS Sports that the record 14-time winners should now get the job done at Stamford Bridge next week.
Toni Kroos believes Real Madrid could have scored more goals against Chelsea’s 10 men
Marco Asensio’s goal gave the reigning European champions a 2-0 lead in the first leg
Chelsea played the last 30 minutes of the 10-man tie following the sacking of Ben Chilwell
“Maybe we could have pushed a little more,” said Kroos.
“Of course there is always the danger of running into a counter-attack, so you always have to take care of that.
‘In the end it is a good result.
It was a good game, but maybe two more goals were possible.
“Chelsea had one of two chances in the first half, so we’ll take the result and hope to get it done next week.”
The win gives Real Madrid a commanding lead heading into the second leg on April 18.
The hosts survived a late scare when Antonio Rudiger was forced to produce a superb block to stop Mason Mount pulling a goal back for Chelsea.
Due to Rüdiger’s intervention, his former side has now gone four games without scoring, the last time being 30 years ago in 1993.