Chelsea took on Manchester City in the third-ever all-English UEFA Champions League Final in an incredibly tactical and tight affair. The Blues entered the game as massive underdogs having lost three of their last four matches, including the FA Cup Final against Leicester City. However, when it mattered most, every single one of the players who stepped onto the pitch on Saturday gave it their all and in the end, a Kai Havertz goal sealed a well-deserved win for the team in the correct shape of blue. Here are the player ratings and men of the matches from Chelsea 1, Manchester City 0.
Edouard Mendy, Goalkeeper, 10/10
Surprisingly untested with City recording only 0.52 expected goal(xG) on the night, Mendy was nevertheless his usual commanding self in and around his area. Calm and composed whenever he had the ball at his feet as well, Mendy’s performance goes beyond his record-equaling 9th clean sheet in the Champions League this season. It was a perfect night for the first-ever African goalkeeper to play in the UCL and Mendy deserves all the praise and accolades that are surely coming his way.
Cesar Azpilicueta, Centre-Back, 10/10
Saturday’s win over Manchester City would now mean that Chelsea’s captain and longest-serving player has now officially won all that there is to win in club football. A legend of the club who was brought in for a mere £7 million 9 years ago, lifting the Champions League is Azpilicueta’s first major silverware as captain and for a player of his status at the club, it is no less than the Spaniard deserves.
Thiago Silva, Centre-Back, 10/10
At 36 years of age, Thiago Silva could be forgiven for thinking that his appearance in last season’s Champions League final would be his last in what has been an otherwise illustrious career. However, his incredible professionalism and desire for new pastures led him to the Premier League with Chelsea and it is ultimately these traits that have delivered him yet another opportunity, just a year on, to win Europe’s premier competition. Even though the Brazilian did go off injured late into the first half, this time, Silva was not to be denied the glory that a player of his statute clearly warrants. It’s an amazing and heartwarming story of perseverance and passion and Thiago Silva’s legacy is now forever cemented in the history books of the beautiful game.
Antonio Rudiger, Centre-Back, 10/10
Another perfect performance (see where I am going with this?) on the night, Antonio Rudiger did not have an easy start to the season by any means and as was indicated in his article, clearly struggled with various issues on and off the pitch. In that context, Saturday’s win must feel incredibly sweet for the German center-back who at points this season fell out of favor with the manager and fans alike. It’s an incredible comeback story on its own and Rudiger’s resilience has now paid handsome dividends for himself and the club.
Reece James, Wing-Back, 10/10
There was much talk before the game amongst City fans with regards to Raheem Sterling starting in spite of his poor, recent form. However, in the aftermath of a wonderful performance from Reece James on the right of the Chelsea defense, there is a school of thought that it would not have mattered who started for City on the left side of their attack. Incredibly dominant on and off the ball, James was everywhere he needed to be throughout the 90, be it keeping Sterling in his pocket or pressing up high to provide another attacking option for his team. It is crazy to think that he is still 21, but not nearly as crazy as it is to believe that Chelsea is the champions of Europe for the second time in their history.
N’Golo Kante, Midfielder, 100/10
To put things simply, Chelsea would not find themselves as European champions for a second time in their history without N’Golo Kante’s performance against Manchester City. In a game where City chose not to start with a defensive midfielder, it is perhaps the greatest irony of all that an opposition defensive midfielder would ultimately go on to dominate headlines across Europe with a man of the match performance. Constantly harassing the opposition whilst proving himself as an equal threat carrying the ball into the attacking third, it was a vintage Kante performance that would undoubtedly go down as one of the best in the history of this competition.
Jorginho, Midfielder, 10/10
With City abandoning the need for a defensive midfielder in their starting eleven right from the off, it was clear that Chelsea’s opponents on the night intended to press the Blues high up the pitch in hopes of scoring an early goal. With this in mind, Jorginho’s role as the man to recycle possession for his team is vital in ensuring that Manchester City’s game plan does not come to fruition. Having been rather shaky and unconvincing in recent outings, the Italian was nevertheless impeccable in the biggest game of his career thus far. It has not been an easy season for Jorginho by any stretch of the imagination and having faced constant scrutiny since his arrival on English shores back in 2018, perhaps a UCL winner’s medal will finally put any remaining criticism to bed.
Ben Chilwell, Wing-Back, 10/10
Brought in for £45 million in the summer, there has been much debate as to how good of a signing Chilwell has been, especially in the earlier parts of Tuchel’s reign when Marcos Alonso was frequently selected in place of the Englishman. However, much like the team did on the night, Chilwell saved his best performances of the season for the last. Strong when defending against the pace of Kyle Walker and the trickery of Riyad Mahrez, Chilwell also combined very well with Mount in the first half. It was the 24-year-old’s perfect touch from Mendy’s goal kick that allowed him to send Mount racing into City’s half, with the latter eventually treading a perfect ball through for Havertz to open the scoring. Overall, a brilliant performance and well-deserving of a 10 out of 10 rating.
Mason Mount, Midfielder, 10/10
Another one of Chelsea’s much-maligned players, Mount has quite simply outgrown remarks of him being nothing more than Frank Lampard or Gareth Southgate’s son. Providing the game-winning assist with a pin-point through ball for Kai Havertz, Mount was simply unplayable on the night. There were the neat little flicks and tricks and then there was the effortless switch of play to Reece James all the way on the right side of the pitch. Regardless of the skill that Mason Mount put on display against Manchester City, what is key is that there can no longer be any doubt that this young man is the future of England and of Chelsea Football Club. The best part? He is Chelsea born and bred and he is Chelsea through and through.
Kai Havertz, Forward, 10/10
The matchwinner on the night, there can be no better ending to the 20/21 season than the one that the 21-year-old experienced on Saturday. There was a first-ever Champions League goal for the young German which he saved for the biggest stage of them all and dare I say, there will be none in the illustrious career ahead of him that will be as important or feel as sweet as the one he scored against Manchester City. Kai Havertz is a special, special talent and this is but the beginning of something incredible at SW6.
Timo Werner, Forward, 10/10
Guilty of missing a few good chances in the first half, Werner was nonetheless crucial in allowing Chelsea to execute their game plan and hit their opponents on the break. Running his socks off on the night, Werner, in spite of his finishing once again, was never for a second lacking when it came to his effort. It was his intelligent running that pulled a center-back away from Kai Havertz to allow his compatriot to net the match-winning goal and it is things like these that can often go unnoticed in games. At the end of the day, if Werner is capable of winning UCLs in what is undoubtedly his worst season to date, one can certainly dream of what this team can achieve with a confident and firing Timo Werner in the side.
Andreas Christensen, Centre-Back, 10/10
Being brought in from the cold to replace one of Chelsea most influential leaders on the pitch in the biggest game in club football is never going to be an easy ask for anyone. Yet, Andreas Christensen looked and played like the pressure did not even exist. The Danish international was calmness personified as he slotted in seamlessly in place of Thiago Silva and did not put a foot wrong in the hour or so that he was on the pitch. From the boy who seemingly crumbles every time something goes wrong on the pitch, the 25-year-old has indeed come a long way since and is 100% deserving of the UCL medal hanging around his neck.
Christian Pulisic, Forward, 10/10
The first American to play in a UEFA Champions League final proper, Pulisic was brought on in place of a rapidly fading Timo Werner and was similarly tasked with hitting Manchester City on the break with his pace. Although the American did miss a guilt-edged chance when played through on goal by Havertz, it was a miss which ultimately had no bearing on the final result whatsoever. It must have been an incredible moment for Pulisic as well as any Americans dreaming of one day making it to the pinnacle of European football and the 22-year-old can most certainly be proud of what he has achieved and inspired in his home country.
Mateo Kovacic, Midfielder, 10/10
Brought on late on into the game in place of the more attacking-minded Mason Mount, Kovacic was most likely instructed to bring much-needed control and possession back into the game as his side attempted to see out an increasingly desperate Manchester City side. Although it was a relatively short cameo, the Croat nonetheless deserves a shout-out for the way he helped Chelsea hold onto the ball. At a moment of the match where cheap giveaways could prove costly, Kovacic was therefore vital in elevating the pressure his side was increasingly being placed under. On a personal note, this is the first time Kovacic has stepped onto the pitch in a final despite having won three consecutive titles with his previous club, Real Madrid. For this reason, Saturday’s victory will feel all the more personal and amazing for Chelsea’s midfield maestro.
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