ALL-ENGLAND FINALE
Chelsea take on Manchester City in the Istanbul summit clash scheduled for May 29, after beating Real Madrid 3-1
Frank Lampard's name has hardly been forgotten by the Chelsea fans, there were chants outside Stamford Bridge before kickoff on Wednesday, new manager Thomas Tuchel is quickly creating his own legacy after leading the London club into the Champions League final against Manchester City.
Chelsea even made record 13time European Cup champion Real Madrid look ordinary as goals from Timo Werner and Mason Mount sealed a 2-0 victory that ousted Madrid 3-1 on aggregate.
A high-tempo opening produced few chances and the tie did not take a decisive turn until midway though the first half. Then Edouard Mendy made a full-length save to thwart Karim Benzema and, shortly after, Chelsea took the lead when Timo Werner nodded in after Kai Havertz's clipped finish cannoned off the bar.
Havertz rattled the woodwork again soon after half-time and
Mason Mount fired over as the hosts continued to create, but spurn, clear chances. Thibaut Courtois kept the Merengues alive with one-on-one saves from Havertz and N'Golo Kante; however, his resistance was finally ended when substitute Christian Puliši crossed for Mount to tap in late on.
Perhaps the stragglers leaving the bars near Stamford Bridge could hear the roar
Tuchel let out on the field inside the empty stadium long after his players had departed the field. It will certainly have been heard in the Chelsea boardroom by the directors whose decision to dismiss Lampard in January and hire Tuchel now seems vindicated. Just like when owner Roman Abramovich made mid-season managerial changes in the 2007-08 and 2011-12 seasons, Chelsea will end the campaign by contesting the biggest game in European football.
And by the end of the month two Champions League trophies could be at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea the first club to reach the men's and women's finals in the same season.
Even though the men's showpiece will be an all-English encounter on May 29, the Premier League rivals will have to fly four hours to play the UEFA showpiece in Istanbul, which is currently in a coronavirus lockdown.
While City has never lifted the European Cup, Chelsea's only triumph came in 2012 when the 22year-old Mount was in the youth system. Unlike last season's final, when Tuchel's PSG lost to Bayern Munich, fans are set to be allowed in. Chelsea supporters have yet to see Tuchel managing their team in the flesh due to England's ongoing coronavirus restrictions. But they can't deny the impact he has made.