It
should have been a thrashing. Chelsea should have blown Real Madrid away
with the number of clear chances they created at Stamford Bridge. But Mason
Mount's strike, which confirmed Chelsea's passage to the final, was just as
sweet a moment as any big win would have been.
Born and bred in a blue shirt, Mount's ecstatic celebrations, when he tucked
in from close range to add to Timo Werner's first-half goal and wrap up a
3-1 aggregate semi-final win, will go down as an iconic moment in the club's
history.
He feels this achievement as much as the fans who had lined the King's Road
before kick-off to welcome the team buses.
Another iconic moment is on the way. On May 29, Mount, the homegrown star,
will walk out in the Champions League final in Istanbul against Manchester
City, who have a rather handy academy graduate of their own in Phil Foden.
It's a mouth-watering match-up.
Mount is a shoo-in to win Chelsea's player of the year prize - but really
the incredible success this side have sustained since Thomas Tuchel took
over has been all about the collective. And their second leg defeat of Real
Madrid summed Tuchel's Chelsea up.
At the back, they're so mean it is almost cruel to the opposition. This was
clean sheet number 18 in 24 matches under Tuchel. Such was their defensive
brilliance on Wednesday, Real Madrid managed just one shot on target in the
final hour of the match.
The imposing, aggressive Antonio Rudiger, alongside the cool experience of
Thiago Silva, and technically assured Andreas Christensen makes for a
winning combination, with Ben Chilwell and Cesar Azpilicueta blocking off
the flanks.
And even when the in-form Karim Benzema had a couple of sights of goal early
on, Edouard Mendy was there with two sharp stops to keep him out. That's
eight shutouts in this season's competition for the Blues goalkeeper - a
record for an English side.
While Chelsea's control of the ball in midfield was not as evident against
Real as it has been in other fixtures under Tuchel, the team's appetite to
win it back was as ravenous as ever.
Jorginho's six interceptions and N'Golo Kante's four showed how well the
central pair disrupted Real's build-up play. Mount's joint team-high tally
of three tackles demonstrated the Blues' desire to shut them down all over
the pitch. "We never lost the desire to defend," Tuchel said afterwards.
That solid base has allowed Chelsea to come out on top in the tight games
under the German - although, as against Real, wasteful finishing has led to
Chelsea needing to edge more tight games than they might have.
Kai Havertz hit the bar and was denied by former Chelsea 'keeper Thibaut
Courtois in a one-on-one, while Thiago Silva and Mount sent efforts flying
into the stands as the hosts wasted chance after chance in the second half.
As well as Chelsea were playing, their slender advantage meant they could
never be comfortable - until Mount finally booked their plane ticket to
Turkey.
Since Tuchel took charge, Chelsea have the fourth-worst conversion rate in
the Premier League and it is surely an area they will address in this
summer's transfer market.
But before then their current crop will have to sharpen up against Man City.
Chances are unlikely to be flowing for Chelsea in Istanbul as they were in
west London: City have faced the fewest shots in England's top flight.
Chelsea know all about that test, though. They passed it in the FA Cup
semi-final last month and they'll get an up-close look at their competitors
for the Champions League crown this Saturday, live on Sky Sports, when they
meet at the Etihad in the Premier League.
That knife-edge element adds to the intrigue of this third all-English
Champions League final, though.
Two sides packed with talent. Two managers with big-match experience who
relish the tactical battle. And only one winner.
More iconic moments will be made...
When is the Champions League final?
This year's final will take place in Istanbul on Saturday, May 29.
The Ataturk Olympic Stadium famously staged the 2005 Champions League
showdown, when Liverpool came from 3-0 down at half-time to beat AC Milan on
penalties.
UEFA has not yet confirmed the kick-off time, but say detailed information
regarding the capacity for the match, travel and ticketing details will be
communicated publicly by the end of the week.
What's next for Chelsea in bid for top
four?
Chelsea now go to Man City on Saturday Night Football, live on Sky Sports
Premier League at 5.30pm, knowing that a City victory will wrap up the
Premier League title for Pep Guardiola's side.
They then host Arsenal in the Premier League on Wednesday evening, also live
on Sky Sports Premier League at 8.15pm.
And what's next for Real in La Liga title
race?
Real Madrid host Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday night at 8pm, currently
sitting two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid with four games of the
season remaining.
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