Timo Werner has admitted that Chelsea’s elimination at hands of Real Madrid last season still hurts to this day.
The Blues took on the eventual champions in the quarter-final of the competition last year, in one of the competition’s best games.
A 3-1 defeat at home had set the Spanish side up for a comfortable victory but Chelsea rallied at the Bernabeu, with goals from Mason Mount and Timo Werner putting them 2-0 up.
Werner then added a third in the 75th minute to put them four 4-3 up on aggregate and on course for the semi-finals.
Real Madrid were not done, though, and an 80th minute strike from Rodrygo set up a historic finish, with Karim Benzema then striking in the 96th minute to put his side ahead on aggregate and into the semi-finals.
While they celebrated, Chelsea were left ruing a missed opportunity and questioning how they had ended up losing the tie.
Werner is now set to return to the Bernabeu with RB Leipzig and reflecting on that night, admits it hurt.
“To be eliminated in extra time at the Bernabeu was very tough,” he told La Razon.
“We played a great game and perhaps deserved more. But that’s football, one goal can change everything.
“The Santiago Bernabeu is one of the most impressive stadiums in Europe. There is a special atmosphere there.
“That atmosphere pushes you as a player, no matter if you play for Real Madrid or against them.”
