'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A first-half strike by Kai Havertz was enough for Chelsea to pick up a 1-0 victory against Manchester City in the final of the UEFA Champions League.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola made some surprising decisions, with Raheem Sterling handed a start. He also fielded his side out without a recognized holding midfielder.
Chelsea were boosted by the return to fitness of Edouard Mendy and N'Golo Kante. They started the game with the most frequent XI of Tuchel's tenure.
A cagey start to the game saw both sides tread cautiously, although a mistake by John Stones was not capitalized on by the Chelsea attack.
The first chance of the game fell into the path of Timo Werner but the Germany international could not sort his feet out in time and shot tamely at Ederson.
Manchester City were the next to go close when Kevin de Bruyne excellently teed up Phil Foden. But Antonio Rudiger provided an excellent last-ditch tackle to deny the Englishman.
Chelsea went ahead when Mason Mount's excellent through ball found Kai Havertz in space and the Germany international brilliantly rounded Ederson before slotting into the empty net.
It was the first UEFA Champions League goal of the 21-year-old's career, although Ruben Dias' mistimed anticipation made it easier for him.
Neither manager made a change at halftime but Kevin de Bruyne was forced off the field after suffering a nasty head collision with Rudiger.
The second half was a more cagey affair, with Manchester City pushing Chelsea behind and the Blues looking to catch their opponents on the break.
They resorted to long balls over the City defense and the constant energetic runs of Timo Werner caused some problems.
Guardiola finally brought on Fernandinho in the 64th minute and this helped City regain their shape and control proceedings.
However, for all their dominance, a resolute Chelsea defense, as well as the ubiquitous N'Golo Kante, ensured that the Premier League champions did not get too many clear-cut opportunities.
Instead, it was Chelsea who got an excellent opportunity to score a second goal when a lightning-quick break found Christian Pulisic in the box.
However, the 22-year-old, who became the first American to play in the UEFA Champions League final, scoffed his shot wide when he should have done better.
City cranked up the pressure in the dying stages and fashioned their best chance of the night in the 90th minute but could not find space in a congested Chelsea box.
The Blues held on to win their second UEFA Champions League title, while the Cityzens will have to continue waiting for an elusive first continental title.
Here are five talking points from the game.
#5 Chelsea's dramatic season goes full circle
Chelsea started last season with a statement of intent and were by far the biggest spenders in a summer transfer window that was hampered by the impact of COVID-19.
Despite the huge outlay on new talent, the club struggled for consistency under the tutelage of Frank Lampard.
Things got to a head when the Stamford Bridge legend was sacked in January and Thomas Tuchel was appointed in his stead.
The German tactician instantly changed the fortunes of the club and easily navigated his way to the UEFA Champions League final.
This put the club in an upbeat mood but a disappointing string of results at the tail end of the season dampened expectations.
The club first suffered a chastening defeat to an out-of-sorts Arsenal on home turf and followed that up with a defeat to Leicester City in the final of the FA Cup.
Another defeat to Aston Villa on the final day put the club on the edge of not making the top four. But Leicester City's spectacular implosion to Tottenham saw Chelsea sneak into the top four.
This sequence of results saw many write off the club's chances against a Manchester City side that saw off Everton 5-0 in their final league game. But as history has shown us on several occasions, write off Chelsea at your own peril.
The victory saw the club salvage the biggest prize of them all in a season that has had so many ups and downs.
#4 Pep Guardiola's big gamble backfires
Pep Guardiola is, without a doubt, one of the best coaches in the history of the game. His coaching portfolio is arguably unmatched throughout history.
However, the Spanish tactician has not won the UEFA Champions League in a decade now. And despite all his achievements elsewhere, this is a stick with which to beat him, considering the huge amounts expended.
The clash with Chelsea gave the Manchester City manager an opportunity to correct this anomaly. But he made a huge gamble in his starting lineup.
He elected not to play with a recognized holding midfielder and this affected the way his side were set up.
The absence of Rodri and Fernandinho in the middle of the park saw City lose their shape on several occasions and Chelsea constantly sliced them open through the middle in the first half.
A more clinical performance in attack could have seen the Blues take a more convincing lead into the break.
The similarities in the style of play between the four starting midfielders hampered City's fluidity in the first hour. This was rectified only when Fernandinho stepped into the fray.
Guardiola has been accused of 'overthinking' the big matches but this is a rather simplistic explanation for his strange gambles that have almost always cost him in the continent.
Perhaps there was some huge tactical gameplan he hoped to unleash with the system but whatever it was, it clearly was not working.
Why it took him so long to also affect the necessary changes was baffling. It is safe to say that Guardiola's big gamble cost Manchester City the biggest night in the club's history.
#3 Kai Havertz picks the perfect moment to come good for Chelsea
Chelsea broke the bank to sign Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen last summer. But the club's record signing did not have the debut season he anticipated.
The Germany international struggled for form throughout the campaign and this consequently led to him dropping in and out of the starting lineup.
Despite his struggles, the 21-year-old remains a quality player. He picked the perfect moment to score the most important goal of his career to date.
His composure was on full display to round Ederson off. Havertz guaranteed himself immortality in the annals of Chelsea with his first Champions League goal.
There is still some way to go before his transfer is considered successful but this goal will undoubtedly help to boost his confidence. Fans of the West London outfit will be hoping that he can build from this.
#2 Manchester City put up no-show in the club's biggest game
Manchester City have been, by far, the most dominant English club in the last five years. But they somehow constantly failed to transfer this dominance to the continent.
After several years of falling short, they finally made it to the final of the competition by seeing off Paris Saint-Germain.
Both Pep Guardiola and his players were bullish in the lead-up to the clash against Chelsea. Pep Guardiola said he had full confidence in his team.
Considering what was at stake and the quality of the players in the City camp, it was expected that they would bring their A-game against Chelsea.
However, that failed to happen and they were largely out-played and outwitted by the London side.
Thomas Tuchel deserves immense praise for his immaculate and almost perfect tactics, while the players also showed great professionalism to follow it to the letter.
However, there were too many Manchester City players who simply failed to perform at the levels expected of them.
Raheem Sterling was pocketed by Reece James, Riyad Mahrez was off-color and Kevin de Bruyne did not weave his customary magic before his unfortunate injury. Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva were played off the park by Mason Mount and N'Golo Kante.
Fair play to Chelsea for nullifying the threat of Man City. But fans in the stadium and worldwide would not help but feel that their players simply did not step up.
#1 Mason Mount and N'Golo Kante put up midfield masterclass
Mason Mount was deservedly named Chelsea's Player of the Season and this was a perfect response to those who criticized Frank Lampard for overdepending on him.
Tuchel benched the England international in his first game in charge but has since realized the importance of Mount.
Apart from the young English midfielder, another worthy winner for Chelsea's Player of the Season was N'Golo Kante. And the pair once again stepped up to the plate against Manchester City.
Despite coming up against some of the most established midfielders of this generation, Mount held his own. His constant pressing and hurrying ensured that De Bruyne and co. did not get a moment's breath on the ball.
His underappreciated technique was also on full display in his slide-rule pass to Havertz to score the opening goal.
Alongside Mount, Kante was at his hassling best and covered every blade of grass.
The two men gave a midfield masterclass in the biggest game of club football and their performance played a key role in Chelsea winning her second UEFA Champions League crown.
