Chelsea win Champions League as Havertz goal tames City

Monday, 31 May 2021 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Chelsea players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League — Reuters

PORTO, Reuters: Chelsea won their second Champions League title and denied Pep Guardiola's Manchester City their first after Kai Havertz grabbed a first-half goal to secure a 1-0 win in Saturday's all-English final at the Estadio Do Dragao.

The German youngster, Chelsea's record signing, kept his composure as he raced through and evaded goalkeeper Ederson before rolling the ball into an empty net in the 42nd minute to decide a tight encounter played in front of a 16,500 crowd.

Premier League champions City were favourites ahead of the final but suffered a desperately disappointing night in their first Champions League showpiece match.

Despite winning three of the last four Premier League titles for City, Spaniard Guardiola failed to deliver the coveted European trophy he last won with Barcelona in 2011.

For Chelsea's German manager Thomas Tuchel the triumph comes after his Paris St Germain side suffered defeat in last season's final against Bayern Munich and just four months after he took over from Frank Lampard at the west London club.

“To share it with everybody is incredible. We made it. Wow. I don't know what to feel,” said Tuchel. “I was so grateful to arrive a second time (in the final). I felt different.

“The (players) were determined to win this. We wanted to be a stone in their (City's) shoe. We encouraged everybody to step up and step out, to be more brave,” he said.

The final whistle set off wild celebrations for the Chelsea fans who had flown in for the game, while dejected City supporters headed off for the flights back to Manchester.