Who to stop Thomas Tuchel?
Since taking charge of Chelsea in January 2021, the German coach seems to have no limits.
After triumphing over Manchester City in the Champions League final, here he is winner of the European Supercup after a victory, Wednesday, August 11, against Villarreal (1-1 ap, 6-5 tab) in Belfast.
Chelsea have been daring to triumph!
By bringing in his second goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga just before the penalty shootout, Tuchel pulled off a master stroke: the Spanish goalkeeper, demoted last season to the rank of Edouard Mendy's understudy, hijacked Aïssa Mandi's attempt and that of Captain Raul Albiol, annoyed.
Champions of Europe, we know what we are.
😉 pic.twitter.com/GX5h6S5jWu
- Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 11, 2021
Enough to offer a coronation to the Blues, their second European Supercup after 1998. The second title, above all, for Tuchel, in just over six months on the London bench after the C1.
The idyll is perfect, far from the difficulties known at the end of the German's lease on the side of Paris Saint-Germain last winter ...
The Londoners' victory had been seen much earlier, in the 27th minute, with the goal of Moroccan striker Hakim Ziyech, well served by Kai Havertz from a low center from the left.
A great reward for this player who did not always start last season, but always present during major meetings, with goals in 2021 against City in the FA Cup and in the Championship, and against Atlético Madrid in the League of champions.
However, the 28-year-old Moroccan might want to forget that goal.
He had to suddenly leave his teammates, injured in the shoulder just before half-time (43rd).
A real blow because Ziyech seemed in good shape: in friendly a few days ago, he had his double (2-2) against Tottenham.
N'Golo Kanté captain
His trainer Thomas Tuchel, who has abandoned his cold face since February, interviewed at PSG for a broad smile, will retain his defensive solidity almost always intact despite the absence of Thiago Silva, and the always certain contribution of N'Golo Kanté, evening captain.
It was also at the exit of the French that Chelsea ended up being hit by the "yellow submarine", with a superb one-two concluded by Gerard Moreno (73rd), him, the scorer in the final of the Europa League against another English team, Manchester United (1-1, 11-10 tab).
Previously, the team coached by Unai Emery had been unlucky, with an outgoing bar from Alberto Moreno (45th + 3) and a strike from Gerard Moreno (52nd) deflected by Edouard Mendy on his post.
A succession of clear chances which offered a very good spectacle to the 10,435 spectators of Windsor Park in Belfast, who perhaps did not expect so much intensity even before the resumption of the season.
Chelsea succeed the untouchable Bayern Munich, winning the duel of the former coaches of Paris SG between Emery, not extended at the end of his contract in France, and Tuchel, unceremoniously dismissed at the end of December 2020.
For Emery, it's a cold shower: four times winner of the C3, he was never able to confirm by dropping the winner of the C1 a few months later during this traditional opening match of the European season.
The German technician, he approaches the exercise with confidence, and soon a reinforcement of weight!
The press has been announcing for several days the imminent arrival of Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan.
What to fill the London ranks with a new asset for the season of confirmation.
The first challenge of the summer is in any case taken up.
With AFP
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