Fridolina Rolfo scored from the penalty spot to secure a 2-1 aggregate victory for defending champions Chelsea against Barcelona. Chelsea defender Jess Carter criticized her team’s lack of tactical awareness in the second-leg loss, acknowledging that mistakes like giving the ball to Barcelona led to the defeat. Despite a strong performance in the first leg, Chelsea succumbed to a 2-0 loss after controversial officiating decisions went against them. Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati’s deflected shot and a red card to centre-back Buchanan proved costly for Chelsea. Fridolina Rolfo’s penalty sealed Barcelona’s comeback victory and ended Chelsea’s Champions League dream.
Emma Hayes expressed her disappointment with the officiating decisions in the match, labeling them as some of the worst in Uefa Women’s Champions League history. The defeat now highlights Chelsea’s focus on defending their league champions status, as their quadruple hopes have been diminished. Carter acknowledged that Chelsea lacked discipline and tactical awareness against Barcelona, emphasizing the importance of capitalizing on chances against top teams. Chelsea’s only remaining chance of silverware this season is the league title, as they were defeated in the League Cup final and FA Cup semi-final.
Hayes was frustrated with Buchanan’s sending off and the inability of officials to review the decision due to it being a second yellow card. Chelsea’s focus now shifts to the league title race, where they are chasing Manchester City for the top spot. The loss to Barcelona in the Champions League has left Chelsea with a disappointing end to their European campaign and reliance on domestic success. Carter and Hayes both recognized the need for improvements in their performances, especially in big games against top opposition like Barcelona.
The result of the second-leg match between Chelsea and Barcelona has raised questions about Chelsea’s ability to compete at the highest level in European football. Hayes expressed her empathy for the players and described feeling “robbed” by the outcome. Despite these setbacks, Chelsea remain determined to challenge for the league title and salvage some success from their season. The defeat to Barcelona serves as a learning experience for Chelsea, highlighting the areas where they need to improve in order to compete effectively in the Champions League and other top competitions. The focus is now on regrouping and putting in strong performances in the remaining league fixtures.
