Joe Cole insists Chelsea should be frustrated with their Champions League semi-final first-leg result at Real Madrid as they should have put the tie to bed.
Thomas Tuchel’s Blues drew 1-1 away at the 13-time European champions on Tuesday night and while they took a vital away goal back to west London for next week’s return leg, the visitors missed a great deal of chances to add to their tally.
Despite their slender advantage going into the Stamford Bridge tie next Wednesday, former Blues winger Cole believes Tuchel should have used his substitutions better to try and claim victory.
Speaking about Chelsea’s performance, Cole told BT Sport: ‘They were the most physical side, it’s disappointing they could not to put tie to bed.
‘Tuchel missed a trick not getting Reece James on earlier or Callum Hudson Odoi being brought on. He will have a tinge of disappointment, Real Madrid were there for taking.’
‘I don’t think they [Madrid] will play as bad as that in the second leg. It was a good result but could have been better.
‘Real Madrid were one or two yards off it. Chelsea got into good positions so many times, but with better decisions in the last third, it could have been more comfortable.’
Chelsea took the lead in the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium at Real’s Valdebebas training ground through Christian Pulisic – but Karim Benzema’s acrobatic effort inside the box levelled the match before half-time.
The Blues should have arguably scored more in the first-half, with Timo Werner missing the best chance after nine minutes when the German fired straight at Thibaut Courtois from around the six-yard box with most of the goal to aim at.
Ben Chilwell fired a first-half effort wide from inside the box while German striker Werner spurned another couple of opportunities when he should have done better.
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