X

Arjen Robben Slams Chelsea and Atletico, Hopes Real Madrid Win Champions League

Rory Marsden@@roomarsdenX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistApril 30, 2014

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 23: Arjen Robben of Bayern Muenchen looks on during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match between Real Madrid and FC Bayern Muenchen at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 23, 2014 in Madrid, Spain.  (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben has slammed the footballing style of both Chelsea and Atletico Madrid and claimed he has no interest in Wednesday's second Champions League semi-final between the two sides at Stamford Bridge.

Bayern lost 4-0 at the Allianz Arena to Real Madrid on Tuesday in their semi-final second leg, a result which saw the holders crash out of the Champions League in ignominious fashion after losing the first leg 1-0. 

Despite the defeat, the Dutch winger expressed his hope that Carlo Ancelotti's side would go on to win the tournament and criticised Atletico and Chelsea after their goalless draw in the first leg, as he told TV channel Sky Sports News (via Eurosport):

I don't really care [who wins]. I watched the 90 minutes last week and I couldn't watch it. The match had nothing to do with football.

The two managers (Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone), I respect them and everybody has their own way, but I think Real Madrid will win the Champions League and I wish them all the best.

Bayern endured a nightmare evening in Bavaria on Tuesday as their hopes of a second successive Champions League final were dashed inside 20 minutes as Real defender Sergio Ramos put the Spanish side 2-0 up.

Needing four goals to advance, Bayern left themselves open to the counter-attack and Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the third in the 34th minute and added the fourth with one minute of the game remaining.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Madrid return to the Champions League final for the first time since 2002 and are in with a real chance of claiming a 10th European Cup. 

Last Tuesday's match between Chelsea and Atletico drew criticism from many for its unexciting nature, though mainly directed towards Jose Mourinho rather than Diego Simeone.

The Independent's Sam Wallace summed up the match in pithy fashion:

Meanwhile, these stats via Squawka seem to suggest Atletico were by far the more attacking side with Chelsea happy to defend and claim a clean sheet:

However, it seems that Robben—who played under Mourinho at Chelsea—was unimpressed with both sides on the night, but with Bayern now out of the competition he will not be coming up against either team this season.

Despite a record-breaking Bundesliga title victory and a German Cup final to look forward to against Borussia Dortmund, the humiliating defeat to Real takes the gloss off a fine season for Pep Guardiola's side.

No doubt the German team will return to the competition next season in better shape, and Robben will have the opportunity to show Chelsea and Atletico what football is really all about.