Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri took full responsibility for the damaging Champions League semi-final first leg defeat against Monaco. Ranieri produced a series of surprising substitutions as Chelsea slumped 3-1 against a Monaco side reduced to 10 men after Andeas Zikos was sent off.
He said: "I take the blame. I made a mistake. We lost the plot in the last 15 minutes and conceded two goals.
"It is my most disappointing night because it was such an important game."
Ranieri took off Jesper Gronkjaer at half-time, replacing him with Juan Sebastien Veron, who looked well short of match fitness after a major back operation.
 |  Maybe people were confused by my substitutions, but I wanted to win the game |
He then replaced full-back Mario Melchiot with striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, before taking off midfield man Scott Parker and sending on young defender Robert Huth. It resulted in Monaco taking control and running out deserved winners.
Ranieri said: "It was my fault. Maybe people were confused by my substitutions, but I wanted to win the game and Jimmy is another goalscorer for us.
"We played well until the last 15 minutes. We had the match under control, but after Monaco's second goal we lost the plot.
"Everyone wanted something more from the game and we made too many mistakes.
"We are very depressed. We knew it would be difficult, but now it is even more difficult.
"We will be trying, but I would say we are only 20% to get to the final now. We will have to produce our best performance of the season in the second leg."
Ranieri added: "I am always confident in the team, but to get two goals back will not be easy."
MMIX
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