After three failed attempts in 2012, 2013, and 2019, Chelsea have finally won the UEFA Super Cup again and it didn’t come on a platter of gold.
The Blues were only 17 minutes from winning the trophy having led from the first half courtesy of Hakim Ziyech’s brilliant strike.
However, Villareal had other ideas in the second half, they pressed hard and harder until they got the equalizer via Gerard Moreno who buried the ball into the top corner from the box.
Both sides could not find the winner during the extra time so they decided to settle for penalties.
Kai Havertz made Chelsea fans panic after he missed his spot-kick but Caesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Rudiger, and the hero of the night, Kepa Arrizabalaga who saved two penalties saved his blushes.
Here are some facts and stats as Chelsea emerge winners of the Super Cup for the first time:
- The Italian duo of Jorginho and Emerson are the first set of players to win the UEFA Champions League, European Championship, and the UEFA Super Cup in the same year
- 8/9 – The Champions League winners have now won the UEFA Super Cup in eight of the last nine seasons, while they had won just four of the previous nine before this run.
- Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has never lost against Spanish opposition in his managerial career, winning four and drawing five of his nine such games. Unbeaten.
- For the third year in a row, the UEFA Super Cup has been won by a team managed by a German coach; Jürgen Klopp with Liverpool in 2019, Hansi Flick with FC Bayern in 2020, and Thomas Tuchel with Chelsea in 2021.
- Chelsea have won the UEFA Super Cup for the second time (in their fifth final), following their 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in 1998. Vindicated.