By Samindra Kunti
May 6 – Two years after Liverpool were crowned European champions following a 2-0 victory against Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City will lock horns in another all-English Champions League final at the end of May in Istanbul after the London club dispatched a fading Real Madrid 2-0 (3-1 on aggregate) in their semi-final.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were rewarded for a night of brilliance to become Champions League finalists for a third time, having won the competition in 2012. In midfield, Frenchman N’Golo Kante proved yet again that his game is about so much more than just breaking up play. He motored Chelsea to victory, even if German duo Kai Havertz and Timo Werner were far from prolific in front of the goalmouth, wasting opportunities or finding Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in their way.
But Chelsea’s 2-0 victory in the second leg semi-final was also the tale of Real’s aging and fading generation. With Nacho, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Karim Benezema all above 30, the Spanish fielded too many veterans, who no longer had the legs to keep up with the youth and spring of Chelsea’s dynamic youngsters. Modric and Kroos, both 35, have long marshaled Madrid’s midfield and led the club in the previous decade to dominance in the European Cup, but they were exposed by their English opponents.
Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy produced two fine first-half saves from Karim Benzema, but the hosts built on their 1-1 draw from the first leg and harried and hurried Madrid. It was a fair reflection of the balance of power between the two clubs. Chelsea were superior over 180 minutes and should have run out comfortable winners in the second leg. As it was, Timo Werner headed in from almost on the goal-line in the 28th minute after Kai Havertz’s lovely dink and Mason Mount delivered qualification five minutes before the end with a tap in from Christian Pulisic’s cross.
En route to the final, Chelsea eliminated Sevilla and the both Madrid clubs, marking a renaissance for the team from their torrid first half of the season under then coach Frank Lampard. It’s also a resurrection for current manager Thomas Tuchel, who was sacked by Paris Saint-Germain in December after he had led the Parisian club to their first-ever Champions League final last season.
The irony won’t be lost on the PSG hierarchy who replaced the German with Mauricio Pochettino, but in Tuesday’s semi-final the French champions fell to Manchester City 2-0, 4-1 on aggregate. The dominance of Pep Guardiola’s team, with Phil Foden in a protagonist role, was never in doubt at the Etihad Stadium, but PSG once again reacted painfully petulantly when their hopes began to unravel as Angel Di Maria was sent off in the 69th minute. His dismissal reflected PSG’s lack of mental fortitude. In the first leg, Idrissa Gueye had also received a red card after his team fell behind to lose 1-2.
And so at the end of the month, City will meet Chelsea in an all-English final, the second in three years and perhaps an illustration of the riches in the English game. The Abu Dhabi owned team have never won Europe’s biggest club competition and two weeks ago they were, alongside Chelsea, part of a cabal of European elite clubs who wanted to breakaway and form the European Super League. For now, the Champions League final will have to make do.
Clubs could get 4,000 ticket allocation each
The final on May 29 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul is still planned to take place in front of about 25,000 spectators.
Last week Turkey entered a covid lockdown that is scheduled to end May 17 and already the covid infection rates in the country are dropping rapidly. The Turkish Football Federation are confident the match will be able to take place with fans in attendance and no alternative venue that would allow fans is being publicly discussed.
The expected ticket allocation for the two clubs is 4,000 each with fans likely having to show proof of vaccination or a negative covid test. Currently Turkey is on the UK’s list of restricted travel. Any fans travelling from the UK would likely to have to quarantine on their return home, though the UK government is expected to release details of an easing of travel restrictions.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714509828labto1714509828ofdlr1714509828owedi1714509828sni@o1714509828fni1714509828