Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel became only the second manager after Jurgen Klopp to beat Pep Guardiola three times in a row after the Blues got the better of Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League final in Porto.
The Blues put on an exhilarating defensive display to restrict an all-out-attack Manchester City unit. With Guardiola deciding to go without a defensive midfielder, Chelsea targeted the pockets of space and the breakthrough came a few minutes before the half-time when Mason Mount put Kai Havertz through on goal. With only the goalkeeper to beat, the former Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder gave Chelsea the lead.
The game had only three shots on target, two of which came from Chelsea, while the Cityzens could only manage one.
A win for Chelsea meant that it was the first time in the UEFA Champions League history that the title was won by different managers of the same nationality in three consecutive years. Jurgen Klopp won the honour with Liverpool in the 2018/19 season and Bayern Munich lifted the trophy under Hansi Flick in the 2019/20 season.
Boss. 🍾#ChelseaChampions #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/sa5KHaBdJL
— Champions of Europe 🏆 (@ChelseaFC) May 29, 2021
Willy Caballero and Kurt Zouma explaining how we are all feeling as Chelsea fans. 😂😂😍😍 pic.twitter.com/F26osQKIZA
— Olieć (@EddieOliech) May 29, 2021
Scenes in the Chelsea dressing room. pic.twitter.com/P8uxxC6mbP
— Olieć (@EddieOliech) May 29, 2021
After the title ceremony was over, Tuchel’s dressing room antics hit social media by storm. The former Borussia Dortmund and PSG manager was seen spraying champagne all over his players and apart from the manager.
Thank you for everything Olivier Giroud.
— Olieć (@EddieOliech) May 29, 2021
📹 Tammy Abraham on IG pic.twitter.com/TENpGImvSS
Mason Mount x Kai Havertz, the creator and the finisher. 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/O0RiMK8aNZ
— Olieć (@EddieOliech) May 29, 2021
Toni Rudiger, the man everybody loves in the Chelsea dressing room going hard. #Hustle pic.twitter.com/dJ4PbtilHz
— Olieć (@EddieOliech) May 29, 2021
There were cheers of joy from the commentary box too. Joe Cole, the former Chelsea midfielder was working as a pundit for BT Sport and was seen jumping in joy after the final whistle.
"I'm shattered now!"
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 29, 2021
We think Joe Cole enjoyed Chelsea winning the Champions League 😂#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/oFAEjYnae6
Meanwhile, it was midfielder N’Golo Kante who delivered the Man of the Match performance. The defensive midfielder was all over the pitch and was instrumental in breaking Manchester City’s attacks throughout the game.
At the full-time, his herculean effort was appreciated by Kurt Zouma, who picked the midfielder and carried him across the pitch like a giant baby.
Nice to see Ngolo Kante being carried for a change after constantly carrying Chelsea’s midfield 😅 #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/um2zhqqGf3 pic.twitter.com/OZssLssISp
— Kwadwo Amfo (@kwadwo_amfo) May 29, 2021
It wasn’t the kind of send-off Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero was hoping for, but it is safe to say Chelsea were the deserved winners.
Featured photo: AFP / David Ramos
