Manager appointment pays off as Chelsea books final spot
LONDON: Chelsea’s decision to fire a club legend suddenly does not seem so callous after all.
While Frank Lampard’s name has hardly been forgotten by the Blues’ fans, 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 Real Madrid look pedestrian as goals from Timo Werner and Mason Mount sealed a 20 victory that ousted the record 13time European Cup champion 31 on aggregate.
‘‘I am very grateful and thankful to have this opportunity,’’ said Tuchel, who had been dismissed by Paris SaintGermain in December despite leading the French club to last year’s Champions League final.
Chelsea will now contest the biggest game in European football.
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 allEnglish 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 Covid19 lockdown.
While City has never lifted the European Cup, Chelsea’s only triumph came in 2012 when the 22yearold Mount was in the youth system.
Chelsea was five points outside the Champions League qualification places when Tuchel was hired, but heads into the final four games of the Premier League season in fourth place with a threepoint cushion.
There is a chance to pick up a trophy before the trip to Turkey, too, with an FA Cup final against Leicester City on May 15.
Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is left to focus on trying to wipe out Atletico Madrid’s twopoint lead in Spain to retain its La Liga title, rather than adding to the three Champions League trophies he won from 2016 to 2018.
‘‘I think we tried, but the truth is today Chelsea were superior and we have to congratulate them,’’ Zidane said.
‘‘It was complicated throughout the match because they had many chances to score more goals and they deserved their victory.’’ — AAP
I think we tried, but the truth is today Chelsea were superior
and we have to congratulate them.