Chelsea Football Club grew to become European champions on Sunday with an astute 1-0 win over Manchester City on the Estadio do Dragao in Porto. Kai Havertz scored the one objective of the sport within the first half in the back of which Chelsea received their second UEFA Champions League title. In the forty second minute, Mason Mount launched an ideal by way of ball in direction of Havertz, who acquired in behind the City defence. City goalkeeper Ederson got here off his line and although Havertz stumbled as he acquired the ball over him, he balanced himself and despatched the ball dwelling. Eventually, nobody else might discover the again of the online and Havertz’s objective remained the distinction between the 2 groups.
This was Chelsea supervisor Thomas Tuchel‘s first Champions League title while Pep Guardiola failed to win his first European crown in a decade. Guardiola had reached a Champions League final for the first time since the 2010-11 season (with Barcelona) and it was also Manchester City’s first-ever European ultimate. However, Guardiola and City couldn’t get over the road as Tuchel outsmarted the Spaniard for the third time this season.
Here are just a few takeaways from the ultimate:
Guardiola’s Squad Selection
Guardiola determined to tinker along with his squad within the large European sport and his plan backfired. City normally have a holding midfielder in the course of the park as a way to break the opposition’s strikes and facilitate the transition from defence to assault. However, on Sunday, Guardiola didn’t begin both of Fernandinho or Rodrigo and as a substitute put Ilkay Gundogan within the defensive position.
Due to Gundogan’s positioning, his offensive play was curbed and he couldn’t present the solidity within the center, which meant Manchester City have been unable to regulate the sport from the center of the park and Chelsea acquired ample alternatives to interrupt by way of the road rapidly.
Fernandinho got here on within the sixty fourth minute however by then Chelsea had management of the proceedings and the lead and City, although tried onerous and compelled their means, couldn’t discover the again of the online. Even Sergio Aguero got here on late and was impactful however Guardiola was simply too late to make these modifications.
Chelsea Strategy
Tuchel had arrange his staff extraordinarily nicely defensively, with the tempo to interrupt by way of up the left flank with Ben Chilwell’s pace. Tuchel’s technique was to carry the play, win the ball within the midfield or on the flanks after which break free rapidly. Chelsea attackers in Havertz and Timo Werner continuously appeared to get in behind the City defence and get to the tip of by way of passes or exact deliveries from Mount, Chilwell or N’Golo Kante. Even when Christian Pulisic got here on, he appeared to be deploying the identical technique and even acquired to the tip of a unbelievable by way of cross from Havertz however was unable to bury the possibility.
N’Golo Kante
Kante is a particularly very important cog in any staff he performs in – Chelsea and the French nationwide staff presently and Leicester City beforehand. Kante is that ball of power that breaks and creates assaults. In the Champions League ultimate, Kante made 10 ball recoveries in over 90 minutes and put up a tireless present. Kante’s sense of positioning was at its greatest, the place he was at all times in the correct place on the proper time. Kante received possession, drove ahead, helped in counter-attack. He even performed an important position in stopping Kevin de Bruyne for no matter time the Belgian was on the sphere.
Chelsea’s Defence
Chelsea confirmed impeccable defending within the Champions League ultimate, the place every participant stepped up and did his job. Captain Cesar Azpilicueta held his place nicely and didn’t let himself simply chase Raheem Sterling. He was there to make last-ditch clearances, declare crosses and let nicely from behind. Antonio Rudiger will most nicely be remembered within the ultimate for his excellent last-ditch deal with towards Phil Foden, the place he was sure to attain. Reece James shut down Sterling sensible all by way of the evening. He was disciplined and did very nicely in one-on-one duels. Chilwell did very nicely to take care of Riyad Mahrez, attacked along with his tempo, created possibilities, and was extraordinarily dynamic.
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