Champions League Results: Chelsea New Rulers Of Europe
JAKARTA - Chelsea won the 2020/21 Champions League after beating Manchester City 1-0 in the final at Dragao Stadium, Porto, Portugal, Saturday local time (Sunday WIB).
The goal scored by Kai Havertz three minutes before half-time was able to be maintained by the Blues until it dispersed in order to increase the collection of Champions League trophies in their cabinet to two. This is the Antara report according to the official UEFA website.
Soak it up Chelsea fans! #UCL #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/BgsxKX4xpD
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 29, 2021
The trophy became the first achievement for Thomas Tuchel who was more than five months in charge of Chelsea. The racik also continues the trend of German coaches winning the Champions League in the last three seasons, after Jurgen Klopp led Liverpool to victory in 2019 and Hansi Flick with Bayern Munich last year.
In the match, Pep Guardiola took the surprise decision to leave Fernandinho on the bench, leaving City's midfield devoid of a single attacking midfielder.
However, the ultra-offensive line-up with the presence of Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva in midfield flanking Ilkay Gundogan, made City look more aggressive in attacking.
Unfortunately, the attack looked dull because City played without a pure striker and put Kevin de Bruyne in the center forward position.
City first threatened through goalkeeper Ederson Moraes' long pass, but Raheem Sterling's space was blocked by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Instead Chelsea threatened to return with a brilliant Mason Mount crossing the left, Timo Werner's cross failed to finish in the 10th minute and four minutes later Werner wasted another chance with a fine shot at Ederson.
In the 27th minute, City launched a fast attack that almost scored a goal if only Antonio Ruediger was not quick to tackle the ball that Foden tried to finish in front of the Chelsea goal. Then three minutes later, City's attack was again fruitless when Kyle Walker's pull bait failed to meet Riyad Mahrez.
Chelsea had to lose Thiago Silva in the 39th minute who had to leave the pitch early due to injury, but Tuchel kept the three centre-backs in with Andreas Christensen.
The deadlock was broken three minutes later, when Havertz stood relatively far from Olexandr Zinchenko's marker and was sent off by Mount's through ball. Havertz chased the ball, carried past Ederson's path out of the net before slamming it into the no-man's net to open up Chelsea's 1-0 lead.
It was Havertz's first goal in the Champions League in his career.
City's tactics didn't work and they suffered another loss when De Bruyne had to leave the field in the 59th minute for Gabriel Jesus, injured after colliding with Ruediger near the halfway line.
Just a minute later City's players protested against referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz for an alleged Reece James handball foul in the Chelsea penalty area. But Lahoz and VAR believe Sterling's shot hit James in the chest before hitting his arm.
City continued to press and in the 68th minute Mahrez sent in a pull-back which was only completed by Foden, but Cesar Azpilicueta was able to cut it in front of goal.
Five minutes later Chelsea launched a dangerous counter-attack which was ended by Havertz's through ball, unfortunately Christian Pulisic's finishing flick was still off the side of the goal.
Unchanged circumstances forced Guardiola on Sergio Aguero for Sterling in the 77th minute, but City's attacking prowess did not appear to have improved.
This was seen when Dias's cross at the end of normal time failed to meet any City players and Mahrez, who tried to send the ball back into the middle of the penalty box, had his bait cut off by Ben Chilwell.
The match officials gave seven minutes of injury time as the game had been stalled for a long time when De Bruyne picked up an injury.
Unfortunately, there was no dramatic goal for City and Chelsea were able to maintain a 1-0 advantage until dispersal to hold the Champions League trophy in their hands.
WE'VE DONE IT!!!!!!!#ChelseaChampions #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/7VZ4RP8Kh6
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 29, 2021