Three lessons learnt in Chelsea 2-1 Palmeiras: On top of the world!

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – FEBRUARY 12: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea lifts the FIFA Club World Cup trophy following victory in the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021 Final match between Chelsea and Palmeiras at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium on February 12, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) /

19 years in the making, Chelsea has finally won it all under Roman Abramovich’s ownership with its 2-1 victory over Palmeiras in Saturday’s final at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium. Champions of Europe and now, Champions of the World, the Blues were certainly made to dig in deep and had to ride through difficult moments of the match to finally bring home the elusive piece of silverware in their trophy cabinet.

Here are three of the lessons we learnt from Chelsea 2-1 Palmeiras:

1. A historic night for Chelsea Football Club

The Club World Cup has certainly never been the most coveted trophy amongst Europe’s elite. The competition has neither the history of the FA Cup, for example, or the prestige of the UEFA Champions League. For the likes of Abramovich and Chelsea captain, Cesar Azpiliceuta, however, Saturday’s final must have felt especially significant. Since his acquisition of the club in 2003, the Club World Cup trophy has been the missing puzzle piece in Abramovich’s trophy cabinet. For a fleeting moment in 2012, the club was presented with a golden opportunity to finally “complete the set.” Alas, a mixture of complacency and bad luck on the night meant that the European Champions of 2012 failed to bring the trophy back to SW6.

Having been part of the squad on the night, Azpilicueta knew how unique an opportunity Saturday’s final was as a means to finally right the wrongs of 2012. After all, for Chelsea at least, Club World Cups seem to come by only once every 10 years. Moreover, knowing full well that the upcoming summer could entail a possible transfer to FC Barcelona on a free, winning the trophy was going to be fitting end to the Spaniard’s 10-year association with London’s finest.

In the end, the Blues did win it. It was a win that sees Cesar Azpilicueta Tanco become the first Chelsea player to have every won every trophy possible. More importantly, February 12, 2022 will forever be known as the day that Chelsea Football Club officially completed football.

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