TUCH TOP Rom and Kai fill final
KAI HAVERTZ conquered Europe and now he has put Chelsea on top of the world.
Chelsea forward Havertz scored the 116th-minute winner in the Champions League Final last May and is clearly the man for the big occasion.
With the end in sight and time ticking down in extra-time, up stepped Havertz and showed nerves of steel to fire home a brilliant, priceless penalty to give Chelsea a wonderful piece of history.
This was the only trophy they had not won during all the glory years under Roman Abramovich and now they have completed the set by winning the Club World Cup. Havertz said: “It’s amazing. “From Champions of Europe to Champions of the World. It sounds better! We did so much to be here, to win this game. An incredible feeling
“I don’t know what to say. I dreamed of this as a kid, an amazing feeling for me. I’m thankful for everyone that brought me here, my family, my girlfriend.
The Champions League Final, now this – all for them.
“I think I’m the third penalty taker. Jorginho and Romelu Lukaku were both out.
“I was the only one on the pitch. The other players gave me trust. Hakim Ziyech, everybody said, ‘You do it, you do it.’
“I have to be honest, I was nervous. It’s a big penalty, a big role. Just crazy. It was good I kept the nerves. I’m very happy.”
It was an unforgettable night, something not even the greats like Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and John Terry managed when they won
2012.
But this Chelsea generation joined Liverpool and Manchester United in becoming the third English club to win the trophy and delight the travelling blue fans in the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Thomas Tuchel was there celebrating on the pitch with the players, having flown in the previous night after getting the all clear after he was hit by Covid last weekend.
And you could tell that Chelsea are a better, more determined team the European Cup in
with Tuchel giving instructions from the touchline as he urged them forward after an energysapping 120 minutes of football.
Up in the stands, there was Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich watching on having posed for selfies in the VIP section. All rather surreal.
The Palmeiras fans were out in force and they never stopped singing, even if their night ended in heartbreak – particularly for Brazilian defender Luan who gave away the last-gasp penalty and then got sent off soon after for scything down Havertz.
That was the only way of stopping Havertz who has had mixed fortunes since his £71million arrival a couple of years ago but will be worth every penny after delivering these two trophies.
These games are always strange occasions, a clash of styles and cultures. And this was no different as Palmeiras pushed Chelsea all the way.
Yet it was Tuchel’s men who showed greater mental and physical strength to dominate and win in extra-time. It was far from a classic and the first half was dreadful.
Mason Mount went off injured and Chelsea could not get going.
But the game came alive after Romelu Lukaku headed them in front after 55 minutes.
Callum Hudson-Odoi crossed from the left, Lukaku rose and headed powerfully home.
After the stop-start season he has had and then also scoring the winner in the semi-final, it seemed as if the £97.5m striker might be the story. But then it went wrong. Palmeiras got a penalty after Aussie referee Chris Beath checked the VAR touchline screen, saw Thiago Silva handled the ball from Palmeiras captain Gustavo Gomez and gave a penalty.
Raphael Veiga stepped up and gave Edouard Mendy no chance. But Chelsea took charge in extra time.
Cesar Azpilicueta, the loyal servant who has now won the lot, saw his shot blocked, Luan had used his arm and Beath checked the screen again and gave a penalty. Havertz did not disappoint. Luan’s night ended disastrously with a
119th-minute red card for bringing down Havertz.
But Chelsea celebrated with another trophy as the fireworks lit up the night sky.
CHELSEA: Mendy 7; Christensen 6 (Sarr
90th), Thiago Silva 6, Rudiger 7; Azpilicueta
7, Kante 7, Kovacic 6 (Ziyech 90th), HudsonOdoi (7 Saul, 76th); Mount 6 (Pulisic (31st) 6), Havertz 8; Lukaku 7 (Werner 76th).
PALMEIRAS: Weverton 6; Rocha 6 (Deyverson, 118th), Piqueirez 6, Gomez 6, Luan 4; Ze Rafael 6 (Jailson (59th) 6), Scarpa
6, Veiga 7 (Wesley 78th), Danilo 6, Rony 6 (Atuesta 78th), Dudu 5 (Novarao 103rd).
STAR MAN: Kai Havertz.
REFEREE: C Beath.