Chelsea defender Jess Carter issues brutally honest assessment after Champions League exit
Chelsea defender Jess Carter bemoaned her side's "lack of tactical awareness" as the Blues crashed out of the Women's Champions League semi-finals following a 2-0 second-leg loss, adding "you can't give the ball to Barcelona and expect to win".
Emma Hayes' side went into the clash with a 1-0 advantage courtesy of a masterclass performance away in Spain. Midfielder Erin Cuthbert's strike proved the difference in a match which marked Barcelona's first home defeat in five seasons.
Chelsea were dumped out of the semi-final stage last season by eventual winners Barcelona and despite a sold-out Stamford Bridge feeling confident after the domineering first-leg display from the Women's Super League champions, Hayes found herself apoplectic on the touchlines after dubious officiating decisions went against the hosts.
Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí restored parity in the first-half when her shot took a deflection off Buchanan. The centre‑back then picked up two very soft yellow cards to cut Chelsea down to 10 players on the hour. And official Iuliana Demetrescu awarded a questionable penalty 15 minutes later after Bonmati was brought down in the box. Fridolina Rolfo converted beyond Hannah Hampton to secure their comeback victory.
Diatribe after the match centred on the questionable calls and their impact levied on the match, with Hayes censuring the decisions as “probably the worst decisions in Uefa Women’s Champions League history”.
But defender Carter, who won Player of the Match in the reverse fixture, refused to allow the official's performance absolve her side of responsibility for the defeat.
"You can’t give the ball back to Barcelona for 90 minutes and expect to win the game," Carter told the club website.
"For the possession
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