Chelsea beat Manchester City 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League to complete a superb season.
How they got here:
Group E winners, 3-0 vs Atlético (R16), 2-1 vs Porto (QF), 3-1 vs Real Madrid (SF) Last season: round of 16European Cup best: winners x2 (2012, 2021)
Their Campaign
An almost flawless group stage, founded on a solid defence and the record-breaking Edouard Mendy in goal, set Chelsea on their way. They were seldom threatened by the much-vaunted Atlético in the round of 16, then saw off battling Porto before overcoming 13-time champions Real Madrid in the last four and Manchester City in showpiece.
Tactical approach
Chelsea approached the final as they had done every other game under Thomas Tuchel: by being hard to break down at the back and waiting for chances to come at the other end. As they had done in their victory against Madrid in the semi-finals, again they showed their mettle, that’s for sure.
Key player
N’Golo Kanté may be 30 now, but his influence is showing no sign of diminishing. He wins trophies, pure and simple, and his engine is just incredible. The midfielder covers every blade of grass, disrupts the opposition – just ask Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos – and seldom wastes the ball. It’s no wonder his trophy cabinet is bulging.
Who’s in charge?
Leading the Blues to their first piece of silverware since 2019’s UEFA Europa League triumph, Tuchel has been a revelation since his January appointment, when he took over from Frank Lampard.