(dpa/NAN) Kai Havertz’s goal earned Chelsea a second UEFA Champions League crown nine years after their first with a deserved 1-0 victory over domestic rivals Manchester City in Porto on Saturday.
Thousands of Chelsea fans were in the crowd of 14,110 to see their team lift the trophy in the Dragao Stadium.
The final match had been moved from Istanbul with Portugal operating under less severe coronavirus restrictions.
Havertz sparked the celebrations with his 42nd minute goal, created by a super pass from Mason Mount.
It split the defence and allowed the 21-year-old German to escape goalkeeper Ederson and tap home.
Manchester City won the domestic championship by a distance but lost to Chelsea both in the league and FA Cup.
It now means Blues manager Thomas Tuchel completed a whirlwind story of success since taking over from Frank Lampard in January.
Defeat in their first UEFA Champions League final means Manchester City remain without the biggest prize in European football.
This is in spite of billions of dollars being spent over the years by their Abu Dhabi owners.
Chelsea are kings again and Tuchel has glory at the second attempt having lost in the final with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last season.
Like in 2012, the Stamford Bridge club won having changed managers mid-season.
“To share it with everybody is incredible,” Tuchel said. “I don’t know what to feel.
“I was so grateful to arrive a second time [in the final].
“The [players] were determined to win this. We wanted to be a stone in their shoe. We encouraged everybody to step up and step out, to be more brave and create dangerous counter-attacks.”
Pep Guardiola was coaching in the UEFA Champions League final for the first time since his second triumph with FC Barcelona in 2011.
But he paid the price for a Manchester City line-up which was incredibly attacking.
Midfield anchors Fernandinho and Rodri were dropped as Ilkay Guendogan took the deepest role in the centre of the pitch.
Kevin De Bruyne and Bernando Silva supported Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden.
“I did the best with my selection. I tried to pick the best selection to win the game,” said Guardiola.
“We struggled to break the lines in the first half. The second half was much better.
“Against the defensive structure of Chelsea it wasn’t easy. We struggled a little bit with the long balls and second balls. In that moment you need inspiration.”
Manchester City were exposed when Mount’s long pass through the centre found Havertz cutting in to collect and finish for his maiden UEFA Champions League goal.
“I don’t know what to say. I really don’t know what to say,” said an emotional Havertz.
“I waited a long time. I’ve waited 15 years for this moment and now it’s here.”
His goal was the least Chelsea deserved after Havertz’s compatriot Timo Werner spurned two previous great chances to open the scoring.
The misfiring striker had a fresh air swipe from Havertz’s cut-back and sent a weak shot straight at Ederson having been found by Mount.
Manchester City in contrast could not get through the solid Chelsea shape which had Jorginho and N’Golo Kante snapping in the middle of the park.
Even, losing veteran defender Thiago Silva to first half injury did not disturb them.
In spite of Manchester City’s abundance of creative players, their best chance of the first half came from Ederson’s long ball over the defence.
But Sterling’s clever attempt was foiled by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
They did not fare better at the start of the second half.
De Bruyne’s poor night ended in disappointing fashion when he was substituted for Gabriel Jesus with a head knock after a clash with Antonio Ruediger.
Fernandinho was introduced for Silva but the next opportunity came for Chelsea, when Havertz set up substitute Christian Pulisic to chip wide on the break.
Record goalscorer Sergio Aguero was thrown on with 14 minutes remaining.
But his last game for Manchester City ended in defeat when Mahrez’s awkward shot flew a fraction high in the last minute of injury-time.(dpa/NAN)
