Chelsea Head Coach Thomas Tuchel has warned Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola that Chelsea is going to Instabul to win the UCL final.
The UEFA Champions League final will be played on the 29 of this month.
Tuchel masterminded the blues 2-0 victory over Real Madrid yesterday on their second leg match at Stamford Bridge in England.
In an interview with the media, Tuchel hailed his team performance against Real Madrid but however he promised Manchester City that the Blues were going in the UCL to win despite the current positive performance on Guardiola’s side.
“What is outstanding about this team – and I noticed it from the first time I arrived – is the bravery and punch to defend from the front. We are going to Istanbul to win.” said Tuchel.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s win over two legs was almost as emphatic as Manchester City’s dismissal of PSG in the other semi-final. The Champions League has two high-quality finalists.
Tuchel’s side, totally rejuvenated under their impressive German manager, were starting to assume dominance as the first half drew to a close before totally over-running a Real side that suddenly started to look its age in the face of the energy of Havertz, Werner and Mount – as well as Pulisic when he came on – allied to the all-round brilliance of Kante in midfield.
Mendy played his part with those crucial interventions from Benzema, with Antonio Rudiger also a rock, but the home goalkeeper was virtually redundant after the break as Chelsea produced a terrific display of skill and intensity.
The only downside was their failure to take one of the many chances they created until late on, leaving the door open for a potential reprieve for Real that would have amounted to grand larceny given how they were being let off the hook.
The crucial opening strike by Werner, whose endeavour has not been matched by goals this season, will be a major plus for Chelsea, as will the display of the rapidly improving Havertz, a smooth, elegant operator who knitted midfield and attack together superbly and was a constant threat.
However Chelsea will go into the final as underdogs given City’s current form, but make no mistake they will fancy their chances and will pose a huge threat.
Chelsea have increased in stature this season which is being witnessed by their progression in the champions league.
The Blues have reached their third Champions League final, also doing so in 2008 and 2012. Only Manchester United and Liverpool (four each) have reached more among English teams.
This season’s Champions League final will be contested by two English teams for a third time, also occurring in 2008 (Chelsea v Manchester United) and 2019 (Liverpool v Tottenham). It’s only the eighth time two teams from the same nation will be contesting the final, with Spanish teams also doing so a joint record three times – 2000 (Real Madrid vs Valencia) and 2014 & 2016 (Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid).
