AS he celebrates his 100th day in office today, Thomas Tuchel has already led Chelsea to two cup finals and propelled them from mid-table into the top four. He has outwitted Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti and now Zinedine Zidane – a bunch of managers with 11 European Cups between them.
Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount knows how important his late goal is as he celebrates joyously after earning a spot in an all-English Champions League finalCredit: Getty
Mason Mount nips in to make it 2-0 and set up a final with Man CityCredit: Reuters
Timo Werner heads the breakthrough goal for Chelsea on 28 minutes as ex-Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois watches on in vainCredit: The Sun
Only Big Sam Allardyce has prevailed against Tuchel, as the West Brom boss would gladly point out.
The £120million shelled out by Roman Abramovich on the German attacking duo of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz came good as they combined to send Chelsea towards their first Champions League Final in nine years, against Manchester City on May 29.
Then Mason Mount, the peach of Chelsea’s rich recent academy crop, poached a late second which confirmed their passage to Istanbul.
Real Madrid, those emperors of European football, may have bossed possession on their first ever visit to Stamford Bridge.
But Chelsea created the majority of the chances, defended with vigour when they needed to, and richly deserved their victory over the two legs.
Chelsea missed chances in Madrid and they squandered a heap of them in the second leg here, keeping this semi-final on a knife edge until the final minutes.
There was a staggering 18th clean sheet in 24 games under Tuchel – and his Blues are now starting to click more seriously in attack, even if their finishing still needs sharpening.
Chelsea lead! 🙌A beautiful one-two in the build-up, before Havertz goes so close to scoring a delicious chip… But Timo Werner is on hand to score the rebound from close range! pic.twitter.com/MWGVcseVul— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 5, 2021
Timo Werner hails the goal that divided the teams at half-timeCredit: Getty
Thibaut Courtois and Real Madrid defenders see Timo Werner poach the Chelsea opener after Kai Havertz’s shot hit the barCredit: AFP
After Chelsea ended City’s hopes of a quadruple with their FA Cup semi-final success last month, England’s Oil Firm will now meet again in Turkey for the biggest prize in club football.
Real had never previously visited Stamford Bridge – a fact which only seemed to accentuate the silence of The Shed on such a famous night for the club.
There were hundreds of Chelsea fans making a racket out on Fulham Broadway as the teams arrived – and they were none too complimentary about Real president Florentino Perez, the Baron Greenback of the European Super League.
Eden Hazard was fit to start on his Chelsea return, keeper Thibaut Courtois was also back in town, and that great anti-hero Sergio Ramos had recovered from the injury which kept him out of the first leg.
Chelsea had taken that first game by the throat in the early stages and despite a decent result they had been left bemoaning a couple of Werner misses, yet the German kept his place up front, alongside compatriot Havertz, whose double against Fulham had earned him a starting berth.
The now customary pre-match hailstorm had given the touchline TV types a thorough dowsing.
Karim Benzema goes close with this effort for Real MadridCredit: The Sun
Edouard Mendy tips over this effort from Real hitman Karim BenzemaCredit: The Sun
Kai Havertz fires wide after the break, when Timo Werner was hoping for a passCredit: The Sun
And the fun didn’t stop there – Real were hogging the ball but Chelsea were baring their teeth with some meaty early challenges.
The masked Antonio Rudiger – who’d smashed his face during the first leg – tested Courtois from range and Mount was artfully dodging all over the shop.
Cesar Azplicueta was booked for a cynical one on Hazard, who is used to being booted all over this turf.
Werner had the ball in the net on 18 minutes, sweeping home a Ben Chilwell cross, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Karim Benzema, whose brilliant first-leg equaliser had given Real genuine hope here, then swivelled and whistled in a shot which Edouard Mendy tipped wide.
But Chelsea were soon in front. N’Golo Kante – that 24-hour rolling footballer – burst forward, played a one-two with Werner, then fed Havertz.
Mason Mount! 💥After so many wasted opportunities, Chelsea FINALLY have their second goal of the night!They’re so close to Istanbul now! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/U6skxXPCMv— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 5, 2021
The elegant German, with one of his Zola-esque flashes, lofted it over Courtois on to the top of the bar, and the ball spun back down for a grateful Werner to nod over the line.
Benzema then forced an even better save from Mendy, his leaping header forcing the Chelsea keeper to tip over the bar.
Ramos shoved over Azpilicueta but Rudiger, producing tackles to make Ron Harris wince, was matching him for defensive villainy and winding up the Spanish champions royally.
The German is a proper defender – old-school bite and new-school athleticism. How could Lampard not have realised it?
Chelsea began the second half with serious intent. Havertz launched himself at an Azpilicueta centre and crashed a header against the bar – then Thiago Silva nodded over from close range when he ought to have scored.
Next, it was Mount who was gliding through Real’s defence, collecting a saucy back-heeled return pass from Werner but blazing into the Matthew Harding Stand.
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Havertz then raced on to the same Rudiger through-ball as Werner, nicked it off his mate but was thwarted by an on-rushing Courtois.
After Mendy had denied Hazard with his feet, Werner sprinted 50 yards and fed Kante who was denied by Courtois, racing off his line again.
Christian Pulisic replaced Werner midway through the half and, after being released by Kante, he supplied the pass for Mount to poach the killer second and celebrate with wild shrieks of delight.
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