Porto (Portugal) (AFP)

Chelsea won their second Champions League, beating the favorite Manchester City (1-0) in the final thanks to Kai Havertz (42nd), Saturday in Porto, a symbolic title for their coach Thomas Tuchel, dismissed from Paris SG at Christmas.

The German technician and the London club have lived together the upheavals of a unique season, turned upside down by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Seventh in the Premier League when Swabia arrived in mid-January, the "Blues" had a season of ups and downs, which made them the underdogs against the recent champion of England.

But in a singular year, a surprise winner: the "Sky Blues", put into orbit by the colossal investments of their wealthy Emirati owner, will have to wait before registering their name on the charts.

Like Tottenham in 2019 and PSG in 2020, they lost their first C1 final, proof that the flagship competition does not allow itself to be seduced by newcomers, as attractive as they are.

Chelsea experienced this bitterly in 2008, when Manchester United beat them after a penalty shoot-out in Moscow.

The "Blues" learned, taking their revenge four years later against Bayern in Munich.

Here is the continuation for the "Citizens", of which only one holder (Ilkay Gündogan) in Porto had the experience of this meeting.

- Silva comes out with an injury ... -

Sacred twice on the Barça bench, Pep Guardiola did not find the key against Tuchel, who beats him for the third time in a month and a half (after the Cup and the Championship).

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The German, like Chelsea, experienced a painful apprenticeship in the finals, with the one lost last August in Lisbon against Bayern (1-0) with PSG, who sacked him four months later, against a background of disagreement on the proposed game.

His players have put against City what they ask for: solidarity in defense and a constant commitment.

Tuchel also has N'Golo Kanté to tie everything together.

The French international "with three lungs" made a match in his image, being tireless when it came to pressing, and punchy when he had the ball.

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His teammate with the Blues, Olivier Giroud, remained on the bench all match.

With around 4,000 supporters, the "Blues" also benefited from the support of the 12th man, their supporters having won the match from the stands.

Tuchel felt it when, five minutes from the end of the match, he asked to make more noise to the fans, who erected a wall of encouragement and whistles at the last Mancunian attacks, during the seven minutes of added time. .

The presence of 14,110 spectators at the Dragon stadium gave life to this final, also English in the commitment made by the two teams.

So noisy "Thiago Silva" accompanied the exit (39th) of the Brazilian defender, hit in a thigh, who was struggling to hide his depression.

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The former Parisian, who tried to hide his emotional face under his jersey, dreamed of winning this trophy which escaped him last August when he was at PSG.

But, in this theater that came back to life thanks to the fans, the sequences were linked, and with tears succeeded the joy, when Havertz opened the scoring three minutes later.

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Thrown by Mason Mount, on the other hand, the 21-year-old German international cleared Ederson with a hook before pushing the ball into the empty net.

So far, the meeting had been as the two coaches had imagined: Guardiola like Tuchel said on Friday that they were preparing to "suffer", and they were right.

- ... De Bruyne too -

Each team has had its periods of domination.

Chelsea pushed first, with Timo Werner in particular, but the German was clumsy (10th, 14th).

Manchester City responded well, but on his best opportunity, Antonio Rüdiger managed an exceptional tackle on Phil Foden (27th) who was about to shoot at close range.

He also missed a few centimeters in Riyad Mahrez, alone, to take over the center of Kyle Walker (30th).

The Algerian international tried his luck again, with a dangerous center released in emergency Cesar Azpilicueta (68th).

Moments earlier, De Bruyne came out injured (59th), after a blow to the face.

Like Silva before him, the Belgian was very moved when he left the pitch.

City let slip his dream ... The sentence could have taken place earlier without the failure of Christian Pulisic (73rd), against.

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After a last strike from Mahrez (90th + 7), Chelsea fans let their joy burst out.

At the same time, the announcer urging them to keep their masks and to remain seated in their seats.

The last image of a season like no other.

© 2021 AFP