Saturday, May 29, 2021

Kai Havertz the hero as Chelsea stun Manchester City to win the Champions League – with Thomas Tuchel claiming crown for first time while Pep Guardiola tactical gamble backfires

Chelsea beat Manchester City 1-0 in Porto to win the Champions League.

Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game on an enthralling night which saw thrilling counters, cruel blows and stunning individual performances.

Chelsea won a second Champions League trophy at the expense of Man City

Chelsea won a second Champions League trophy at the expense of Man City

Cesar Azpilicueta lifted the trophy as captain

Cesar Azpilicueta lifted the trophy as captain

The Chelsea players celebrated with the 6,000 of their fans inside the stadium

GETTY

The Chelsea players celebrated with the 6,000 of their fans inside the stadium

A frenetic opening 45 minutes saw Timo Werner squander chances, and Antonio Rudiger deny Phil Foden with an astonishing tackle.

Chelsea then suffered a huge knock when influential defender Thiago Silva was forced off with a muscular issue.

But, just two minutes before half-time, Havertz rocked City with his first ever Champions League goal.

Mason Mount’s inch-perfect pass found the £72million forward and he rounded Ederson before tapping into an empty net.

Havertz beat Ederson to the ball and outfoxed the City keeper

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Havertz beat Ederson to the ball and outfoxed the City keeper

With Ederson stranded, he stroked the ball home

Getty

With Ederson stranded, he stroked the ball home

What a time to score your first Champions League goal

What a time to score your first Champions League goal

Tuchel celebrated like a Chelsea fan when Havertz opened the scoring

Tuchel celebrated like a Chelsea fan when Havertz opened the scoring

City then suffered a huge blow when Kevin De Bruyne had to exit the match through injury, having received a knock to the head which caused him an almost instant black eye.

City threw on Gabriel Jesus and then Sergio Aguero – making his last ever appearance for the club – but they just couldn’t muster the chances to draw level.

Chelsea held out to claim the Champions League for the second time while City’s wait for Euro glory goes on.

It is a stunning achievement for Thomas Tuchel, who has only been in charge at Stamford Bridge for 124 days and lost the final last year when in charge of Paris Saint-Germain.

De Bruyne’s night ended early and he left the pitch in tears as Man City were stunned by Chelsea

AFP

De Bruyne’s night ended early and he left the pitch in tears as Man City were stunned by Chelsea

There was no dream ending for Aguero either

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There was no dream ending for Aguero either

But questions will be asked of Tuchel’s managerial counterpart.

Guardiola, famed for curveball selections, played a wildcard from the off by choosing not to start a recognised defensive midfielder in his side.

Fernandinho and Rodri were both on the bench with Ilkay Gundogan, City’s top scorer in all competitions, beginning the match as their deepest midfielder.

City did start brightly and almost fashioned an opening minutes into the match when Ederson’s pinpoint pass found Raheem Sterling in space, and forced Edouard Mendy into the first save of the game with a backheel.

On the counter, though, Chelsea began to look dangerous and created two good chances to score the opener.

They both fell to Werner but he was unable to take either, first miskicking in front of goal and then scuffing an effort straight at Ederson.

Sterling had a shot saved after being pushed wide by Reece James and Mendy

AFP

Sterling had a shot saved after being pushed wide by Reece James and Mendy

Werner missed three good early chances for Chelsea

Werner missed three good early chances for Chelsea

De Bruyne caused hearts to flutter in the Chelsea backline as he grew into the game, while the Londoners remained a constant threat on the counter.

Foden was undoubtedly one of the men to watch going into the game and, had it not been for a stunning challenge from Rudiger, he would have put City ahead after 27 minutes.

Moments later Kyle Walker was doing damage on the right with a bustling run but his pass just missed the outstretched leg of Riyad Mahrez.

Gundogan, perhaps unsurprisingly given his role change on the night, got the first booking of the night for a kick on Mount.

Chelsea were then rocked when Silva was hurt battling Foden in the air.

Silva succumbed to his injury with Andreas Christensen replacing him, a cruel ending to the game considering he had become just the fifth man to start successive Champions League finals with different clubs.

Silva was forced off with injury

Getty

Silva was forced off with injury

Chelsea, though were determined to win without him and were ahead just before half-time.

A sensational through ball from Mount, between John Stones and Zinchenko, found Havertz, who had produced a beautifully arced run.

Ederson came haring towards him, but a composed touch took the goalkeeper out of the equation and the German slotted home his first ever Champions League goal with ease.

“Manchester City have spread their whole backline across the back of the pitch and the holes were ridiculous,” reacted to Stuart Pearce in talkSPORT.

Havertz celebrates his goal as he became the youngest German since Lars Ricken to score in a Champions League final

Getty

Havertz celebrates his goal as he became the youngest German since Lars Ricken to score in a Champions League final

Pundits and former players called for Guardiola to reverse his decision to play without a holding midfielder but he declined to alter things during half-time.

Chelsea continued with their compact 5-2-3 and the early sparring in the second half went in their favour too.

Matters got worse for City just before the hour-mark too when De Bruyne was forced off the pitch after a clash with Rudiger.

Christian Pulisic then entered the fray for Werner, who had been rowing with Tuchel about an offside run, becoming the first American to play in a Champions League final.

He should have created more history two but on the end of a counter started by the magnificent N’Golo Kante, he sent his shot wide when through on goal.

Pulisic misses the target after coming off the bench for Chelsea

AFP

Pulisic misses the target after coming off the bench for Chelsea

City put on Aguero in their search for a leveller but their surprising lack of creativity let the striker down.

Chelsea’s compact defending and marvellous showings from Kante and Rudiger were able to ensure they lifted the trophy for the second time in the club’s history.

Guardiola, meanwhile, leaves frustrated and without a triumph in the tournament since 2011, while he was with Barcelona.

The Chelsea players rushed to celebrate

The Chelsea players rushed to celebrate

A first Champions League trophy for Tuchel

A first Champions League trophy for Tuchel

But Guardiola is still yet to win it with City

But Guardiola is still yet to win it with City


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