Chelsea won their second Champions League, beating the favorite Manchester City (1-0) in the final thanks to a goal from Kai Havertz (42nd), this Saturday in Porto. A symbolic title for his trainer, Thomas Tuchel, licensed from Paris-SG last December.
The German technician and the London club have lived together the upheavals of a unique season, turned upside down by the Covid-19 pandemic. Seventh in the Premier League when Swabia arrived in mid-January, the “Blues” had a season of ups and downs, which made them the underdogs against the recent champion of England. But the “Sky Blues”, put into orbit by the colossal investments of their rich Emirati owner, will have to wait before registering their name on the charts.
Like Tottenham in 2019 and PSG in 2020, they lost their first C1 final. Chelsea had experienced this bitterly in 2008, when Manchester United won the big-eared cup after a penalty shoot-out in Moscow. The “Blues” have since learned, taking their revenge four years later against Bayern in Munich.
Thiago Silva comes out on injury …
Sacred twice on the Barça bench, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola did not find the key against Thomas Tuchel, who beats him for the third time in a month and a half (after the Cup and the Championship ). But the German, like Chelsea, experienced a painful apprenticeship in the finals, with the one lost last August in Lisbon against Bayern (1-0) with PSG, who sacked him four months later, against a background of disagreement on the proposed game.
His players proposed against City a game based on solidarity in defense, nourished by a constant commitment, the midfielder N’Golo Kanté linking everything. The French international made a match in his image, tireless when it came to pressing, and impactful when he had the ball. His teammate with the Blues, Olivier Giroud, remained on the bench.
With some 4,000 supporters at the Dragon stadium – a total of 14,110 spectators attended the final – the “Blues” also won the match from the stands. Tuchel felt it when, five minutes from the final whistle, he demanded to make more noise from the fans, who erected a wall of encouragement and whistles during the last Mancunian attacks, in the seven minutes of time. additional.
Thus, noisy “Thiago Silva” accompanied the exit (39th) of the Brazilian defender, hit in a thigh, who was struggling to hide his depression. The former Parisian, who tried to hide his emotional face under his jersey, dreamed of winning this trophy which escaped him last August when he was at PSG.
Three minutes after his exit, his teammate Kai Havertz opened the scoring. Launched by Mason Mount, on the other hand, the 21-year-old German international cleared goalkeeper Ederson with a hook before pushing the ball into the empty goal.
… Kevvin De Bruyne too
Each team has had its periods of domination. Chelsea pushed first, with Timo Werner in particular, but the German was clumsy (10th, 14th). Manchester City responded well, but on his best opportunity the Londoner Antonio Rüdiger managed an exceptional tackle on Phil Foden (27th) who was about to shoot at close range.
He also missed a few centimeters in Riyad Mahrez, alone, to take over the center of Kyle Walker (30th). The Algerian international tried his luck again, with a dangerous center released in an emergency Cesar Azpilicueta (68th).
Moments earlier, Kevin De Bruyne left injured (59th), after receiving a blow to the face in a shock with Rüdiger. Like Silva before him, the Belgian was very moved when he left the pitch.
After a last strike from Mahrez (90th + 7), Chelsea fans let their joy explode. At the same time, the announcer urged them to keep their masks on and to remain seated in their seats. Last image of a particular season.
