Chelsea has won the 2021 UEFA Champions League title beating Premiership League winners, Manchester City.
German striker, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the final as Chelsea stubbornly held on to claim the victory, and dashing Manchester City’s dreams of a maiden UEFA Champions League crown in their chequered history.
This happy ending also completes an astonishing turnaround for the Blues under Thomas Tuchel, four months after taking over as the new helmsman following the Frank Lampard’s dismissal by the club management.
In a move that started from their goalkeeper Édouard Mendy three minutes before half-time, Mason Mount took possession from Ben Chilwell and passed wonderfully to leave City’s high line floundering.
Havertz was left completely free, bearing down on the area and kept his balance, hurdling the onrushing Ederson before putting the ball into an empty net.
Pep Guardiola’s City, chasing their first European trophy since the Cup Winners’ Cup crown in 1971, stepped up the pressure after the break. However, their hopes were hit massively when they lost Kevin De Bruyne shortly before the hour mark after the Belgian was checked by Antonio Rüdiger.
After a lengthy stoppage, De Bruyne, now sporting a black eye, was replaced by Gabriel Jesus. Almost immediately, City had loud claims for a penalty after they claimed Reece James handled in Chelsea’s area. Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz waved away their demands, a decision backed up by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
César Azpilicueta denied Ilkay Gündogan a tap in with a timely intervention after Riyad Mahrez crossed from the right, but within a minute the Spaniard was down in a heap following an innocuous challenge. He was able to continue but the stoppage added to City’s frustration and impatience to get back into the game.
Substitute Christian Pulisic missed a golden chance to double Chelsea’s lead with 18 minutes remaining, after he was given sight of Ederson’s goal by Havertz. The US international, however, dinked it well wide of the post.
With reports by The Guardian
