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Roman’s Chelsea are ‘Kings of Europe’
Sixteen-goal Lions rout Scrabble in Cup BY DAVID SAFFER
Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea are basking in the glory of winning the UEFA Champions League. The Blues overcame the odds to lift the giant trophy by defeating favourites Manchester City with a masterclass performance in Porto. Manager Tomas Tuchel got his tactics spot on to deliver the Blues second Euro crown. BY DAVID SAFFER The result was a bitter blow for City’s manager Pep Guardiola. theasclubs’ doReiss Mogilner scoredFor sixall goals Maccabi mestic success this competition is the London Lions thumped Scrabble A inmost the craved. And Guardiola wasAnekstein heavily criticised second round of the Cyril Cup. forThhis team selection, going for aup gung ho e Premier League side racked a 16-0 attack against theMichael best defence win with Danielarguably Green and Kenley around. Gaurdiola’s gamble to play Rodboth bagging a hat-trick. Ednot Brafman, Dari orDinkin, Fernandinho backfired. An unbalanced vid and Adam Hassanali completteam and dynamism ed thelacked rout influency a mismatch of a tie. as Chelsea moved alongside BrianinCloughs’ NotLions could have scored the opening tinghamof Forest to third on opened the all-time minute the clash butspot soon the list of British winners. scoring and led 9-0 by half time. Indeed, ChelseaOne are fast becoming Th e Division team, thoughEurooutpean giants withaway six wins in seven classed, battled to the end. finals. Five decades ago, they theatEuropean Lions boss was lost forlifted words full time Cup Winners Overfrom a quarter of centusuch was theCup. display his team who ry later, Gianfranco scored the winner gave every respect toZola the opposition. against Stuttgart the 1998 final. A decade “I’m not reallyinsure there’s anything to on they losthappy to Manchester say, we are to make itUnited throughintotheir the first tilt at the in a shootnext round ofChampions the cup,” heLeague commented. out but fourUnited years later made amends when Hendon Sports ran out 3-1 victors Didier Drogba the line penalty against LeagueledOne outfiint another North London shoot-out under interim Roberto Di Matteo. Raiders. Frank Lampardside wasled skipper night, his The Premier early that in the second services dispensed with this half onlywere for Raiders to equalise butseason, struck but he guided to thea2021 competition. two late goalsthem to book place in round Theof most recent decade has brought Euthree the competition. ropa Leaguenow success 2013attentions and 2019 under Hendon turnin their to the RaphaelasBenitez and Maurizio Sarri A respecleague they travel to Oakwood for a tively. And sees the as crucial top aofnew thedecade table clash on Blues Sunday Champions of Europe. (10am). And who wouldteam predict against third Daniel Kristall’s stunned thealeague Champions in they the Abramovich leaders last League month title when won 2-0, a era. victory would move them to within a point Manchester United, with a trio of triof Only Hendon with a match in hand. umphs, and Liverpool’s sixround titles are axtures, target. Elsewhere in the latest of fi And evenNorth if Chelsea fail Galaxy to reachmade that holy 10-man London it a grail, Abramovich’s haul silverware rethree-way title race in theof only DivisionisOne markable byday anyafter standards. clash of the defeating Oakwood B. So, can Chelsea three-time Jamie Murray saw redbecome early on but Galaxy winners? rallied with goals from Josh Cohen and JaAbramovich will aim it and if2-1 expectacob Leigh to record an for important away tions appear out of reach a new boss will be win. installed. the clubsJewish two Champions Galaxy After head all, Redbridge Care A in League have come mid-season the tabletitles by just one pointafter aftera 10 matches, reshuffle! third place Fairlop FC are five points beForwith now,two Tuchel, who hind games insigned hand. an 18-month contract last January, willOakwood. lead the side into Rafi Bloom scored for the“It2021/22 the trophy. Tuchel was a defence fantasticof performance in a
met Abramovich for the first time in person on the pitch in Portugal. He told the Chelsea website, “Now is the time to celebrate for some days and to enjoy it and let it sink in. This is the time now for one or two weeks to talk about it and reflect on it. But then surprisingly it does not do a lot to you, and I think that’s good because nobody wants to rest. I don’t want to rest. I want the next one. I want the next success and I want the next title and I want the next process on the same level of quality of consistency.” As for City, this is probably just a blip in their trajectory as a European powerhouse. And they will be among the favourites next season to land the ‘big one’. City are expected to lead the chase to sign Tottenham Hotspur sharpshooter Harry Kane and the England forward could prove to be the missing link to European glory. Bayern, PSG, Real Madrid et all will strengthen. So will City but Chelsea are also be in the mix. Regarding the final, Chelsea had the better opportunities. Timo Werner missed a couple before 16-goal Maccabi London Lions Kai Havertz l a t c h e d onto Mason must-win game,” commented Galaxy playMount’s pass er-manager Luke Lewis. to“We slotsat inback the and allowed Oakwood the all-important ball, given the one-man advantage and goal that intocounter Blues attack looked to catapults hit them him on the history. with pace.England internationals Mason and Ben “Both Mount goals came downChilwell the right-hand enjoyed terrific side. Leigh crossedgames, the firstAntonio one into Cohen Rudiger thehome defence to finish, marshalled before slotting himself. Up butfirst N’Golo was ‘man of the to we go.Kante ” match’ as he nullified City’srace potent The Division Two title also took Andleague what aleaders haul of Herstwood silastrikeforce. twist with verware French internationVale goingthe down to a 2-1 defeat at Temple al has with Champions League, Fortune. World Cup, Premier Faithfold B have League, played Europa a game more League and Cup winners’ medthan Vale butFAmoved level with a 5-3 win at als tucked awayRaiders in recent seasons. North London Masters. City’s Kalms Kevin struck De Bruyne, who Jacob twice for Fortune who departed injured afterscorer an James Milscored through leading hour, Raheem Phil letwith his 17thSterling, goal of the season. Foden and Riyad Mahrez The result was all the more remarkable andTemple Sergio were Aguero’s lateto 11 players with as down appearance faileddislocating to ‘keeper Ben all Rebuck a shoulder Chelsea skipper Cesar find a clinical moment in the warm up. Azpilicueta to“Th strike. is was a fantastic win given the
Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea has two Champions League crowns PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
A disconsolate Guardiola told reporters after that he made the best selection to win the game. The spoils ultimately, and deservedly, belonged to Chelsea, who completed a hat-trick of wins over City in Tuchal’s short reign. Mount told BT Sport, “It’s such a special occasion. I can’t put it into words. It’s impossible. I’ve played in two finals for Chelsea and we lost them both. It’s all I’ve dreamt of, winning a trophy with Chelsea.” He delighted added, “ToFortune go all circumstances,” said boss Simon Linden. the way in the ChampionsofLeague, played “We had a number playersweout, Retough teams. At buck got injured, so Isome couldn’t have asked this moment time,a any more from the players. We wishinBen we’re the best team speedy recovery. in theperformance, world. You “It was a proper old school can’t take90that away we battled and defended for the minutes us.” and took our chances. from Experience proved to be the winner. It’s a bigChelsea win, one skipper we will Cesaron itAzpilicueta enjoy and we hope to build in 2019.” the50club He added, “This wintold marks yearswebas a site, “There are a lot football club and will be one Nigel Kyte and PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK of the emotions going everyone associated with club from day
through my mind. It has been a tough season but we ended it in the best way possible. I want to mention the whole group. Only a few of us were lucky to be on the pitch but the preparation from the group, everybody, the staff, was amazing and it made a difference. This win was from the whole group. The preparation was amazing as was the energy in the dressing room. I know how it can be to be left out of the team when we have so much competition in the squad but they gave everything for the team.” Noting the performance of N’Gole, he said, “He does everything, with the energy he brings. I don’t know how many ball recoveries he had in this game but he drives the ball forward, he covers so much ground.” Azpilicueta added, “After winning the World Cup and winning the Champions League, he is so humble and I am so happy for him. He is a massive part of this team.” Raw facts are rarely wrong but the balance of power has shifted in English football. No English team has won more major honours than Chelsea since Abramovich arrived at Stamford Bridge in June 2003. The club historically had won a First Division title, FA Cup on three occasions, League Cup and UEFA European Cup Winners Cup twice and UEFA Super Cup. Under Abramovich, the Blues have scooped 17 trophies including the UEFA Champions League (2012, 2021), UEFA EuPHOTO: DAVID SAFFER ropa League (2013, 2019), Premier League (2005, 2006, 2010, 2015, 2017), FA Cup (2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018) and League Cup (2005, 2007, 2015). When you consider they have also won the FA Youth Cup on seven occasions since 2010, his tenure has been astonishing. The same time period has seen Manchester United and Manchester City win 13 trophies apiece. But it is the past decade where the tide has turned. City lead the way on 12 trophies, Chelsea 10, Arsenal 6, Liverpool 5 and United on only four. Manchester one will enjoy.” City, with three Premier League crowns in four seasonswas are the team Vale boss Jacob Emanuel quick to to beat domestically. Liverpool will battle wish Rebuck well following his injury. away at and the top United’s halcyon days “First mostbut importantly, everyone at under Sir Alex areFortune in the annals of Vale would likeFerguson to wish the ‘keeper Can Ole ayesteryear. quick recovery, weGunnar hope toSolksjaer see him bring back back glory days, their Europa on thethe football pitchjudging as soonby as possible, ” he League disaster last month, the jury is out. said. Blue with City and ChelAs foris the colour defeat,now Emanuel commented, sea doesn’t taking onmatter all-comers. “It how big a squad you Chelsea’s billionaire owner hasn’t been to have, you can never account for unavailStamford due to political ability or Bridge injury. since Only 2018 five of today’s team tensionsinbetween the UK Russia but thea played our recent winand over FC Team, bandwagon rolls on. and poor individual lack of togetherness
“It was a proper old school performance, we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved to be the winner.”
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