Champions League: Karim Benzema caps Real Madrid’s stirring fightback against Chelsea with Carlo Ancelotti happy to suffer

Ancelotti praises his players for never giving up, even after going 3-0 behind with 15 minutes remaining in quarter-final second leg

Benzema heads decisive goal in extra time after Rodrygo brought the tie level at 4-4 on aggregate in Madrid

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Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates his extra-time goal against Chelsea. Photo: Xinhua/Meng Dingbo

Published: 11:19am, 13 Apr 2022

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti survived another breathtaking European night at the Bernabeu as his team saw off a stirring Chelsea fightback to book a place in the Champions League semi-finals despite a 3-2 defeat after extra time in the second leg.

Their 5-4 aggregate win on Tuesday came five weeks after Real recovered from two goals behind in their tie against Paris Saint-Germain to earn an epic 3-1 victory on the night as they knocked the visitors out 3-2 on aggregate in the last 16.

“The more I suffer, the happier I am,” Ancelotti told a news conference with a smile on Tuesday.

“It was a lot of suffering, though. We were losing 2-0 [against Chelsea] but I believe we didn’t deserve it, the team did well. We were not in a hurry to score, we didn’t need it, but for me when they scored the second they didn’t deserve it.”

Mason Mount (right) celebrates his goal during their Uefa Champions League quarter final second leg match against Real Madrid. Photo: Xinhua/Meng Dingbo

Ancelotti praised his players for never giving up, even after going 3-0 behind with 15 minutes remaining before Rodrygo brought the tie level at 4-4 on aggregate to force extra time in which Karim Benzema headed the decisive goal.