Monaco coach Didier Deschamps emerged as one of European soccer's finest tacticians when his 10-man team humbled Chelsea 3-1 in their Champions League semi-final first leg.

On Tuesday, two weeks after knocking nine-times champions Real Madrid out of the competition, the former France international midfielder won a tactical battle over his experienced Chelsea counterpart, Claudio Ranieri.

When Monaco found themselves down to 10 men after Greek midfielder Andreas Zikos was sent off in the 52nd minute, Deschamps decided to leave two strikers on the pitch.

He brought on midfielder Edouard Cisse for Dado Prso and moved Ludovic Giuly forward to spearhead Monaco's attack with Fernando Morientes.

Ranieri, dubbed the "Tinkerman" for his constant squad changes, brought in Dutch striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for right back Mario Melchiot, one of three changes in the second half.

The change seemed to disjoint the London side whose numerical superiority became increasingly less obvious.

"We needed one more player up front to win the match," said Ranieri. "But in the last 15 minutes we lost the plot. It's not the players' fault, it's mine."

Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen said: "In the second half, we did not act as a team."

ATTACK-MINDED

Deschamps said he had decided against playing defensively because his players were natural attackers. Monaco scored eight goals earlier in the competition against Deportivo Coruna.

"I think the fact they brought on one more striker left us more space," he said. "I wanted to keep two forwards because I wanted players to create space and still have chances to score."

Giuly's counter-attacks left Chelsea exposed despite their superiority in numbers. Morientes ran on to a pass from the French international midfielder in the 77th minute and unleashed a fierce shot into the top corner to make it 2-1.

It was the Spanish striker's eighth Champions League goal this season which he is spending on loan from Real Madrid.

"I think great players are always here when it matters and Fernando is always there for the big games. He does more than he has to," said Deschamps.

Deschamps, who captained France to victory in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, started his coaching career in the principality at the beginning of the 2001/2002 season.

Morientes heads the Champions League scoring table this season. Prso is second on seven goals.