Chelsea look like a reformed side under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Since the German’s appointment at the end of January , the Blues
have been superb. Over the span of three months, Tuchel beat the
likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Atlético de Madrid, Liverpool , Real
Madrid , and Manchester City. The Blues are on the verge of a top-
four finish, and they will compete in two cup finals this month.
With this in mind, why might Chelsea win the 2020/21 Champions
League Final ?
Defensive Record
First, Chelsea’s defensive record under Tuchel has been superb.
The Blues have played 26 matches in all competitions since
Tuchetl’s first game in charge on 27 January. During this game
span, Chelsea have kept 18 clean sheets. They have only conceded
12 goals in 26 matches, albeit five of these 12 goals were
conceded in a single match.
These results led to some impressive victories. Chelsea shut out
the likes of Atlético (twice), Liverpool, Manchester City, and Real
Madrid. These performances helped Chelsea advance to this
season’s FA Cup Final and Champions League Final.
Overall, Chelsea have brushed past some difficult opponents in
convincing fashion, and their defensive performances have
revamped their season. Chelsea may ver well end the season with
a top four finish and two pieces of silverware, something that did
not seem possible in January.
Competitive Run to the End of the Season
Chelsea have a difficult run as the 2020/21 season comes to an
end. At the start of May, Chelsea hosted Real Madrid in the second
leg of the Champions League’s Semi-Final. The Blues then had
back-to-back English Premier League matches against Manchester
City and Arsenal. Chelsea won two of these three matches, they
advanced to the Champions League Final, and they extended their
lead in the EPL’s top four.
Chelsea will now face Leicester City in a doubleheader. First, the
Blues will face the Foxes in the FA Cup Final on 15 May. Three
days later, Chelsea will host Leicester on 18 May in a battle for a
top-four finish. Should Chelsea win the league match, they will be
in prime position to finish in the top four this season, thus booking
a place in next season’s Champions League. A domestic cup
victory would certainly boost their confidence and motivation ahead
of the Champions League Final.
Chelsea will have a difficult set of games leading up to the
Champions League Final, but this will allow them to stay fit and
ready for the important match. Given Manchester City have an
easier set of league matches leading up to the final (Newcastle,
Brighton and Hove Albion, and Everton), this gives Chelsea an
edge.
Recent Results and Mind Games
Finally, Chelsea defeated Manchester City twice over the past
month. In April, Chelsea faced Manchester City in the FA Cup Semi-
Final. While both clubs fielded weaker teams, Chelsea were the
more convincing side in the tie. Their 1-0 victory put an end to any
discussions about a potential City quadruple this season, and
Chelsea advanced to their second FA Cup Final in as many
seasons.
More recently, Chelsea defeated Manchester City in an EPL match
in what was a game that the Blues needed to win in order to keep
their hopes alive for a top four finish. City took the lead in the first
half, and could have taken a commanding lead into halftime.
Recent Chelsea signing Eduard Mendy, however, made a big stop
against a Sergio Agüero penalty, and this allowed the Blues to
come back in the second half of the match. Despite Manchester
City’s dominance, Chelsea stole the game in the dying minutes of
extra time. The victory extended Chelsea’s position in the top four,
and it forced City to wait an extra day to be crowned the 2020/21
Champions of England.
Having defeated Manchester City twice in quick succession, this
will give Chelsea a psychological edge over their opponents. The
Blues will know that they are capable of defeating the Sky Blues,
and this has demonstrated that perhaps City are not as invincible
as they appear. City will also want to make amends for their two
loses, and this desire may force them to lose focus.
Simply put, Chelsea have been on a good run of form (despite the
fluke results against West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal). The
Blues know they have what it takes to defeat Manchester City, and
a potential FA Cup victory and top four finish would give them an
additional edge as they prepare to face Manchester City in this
season’s Champions League Final.
Possible Starting XI for the Champions League Final
Mendy; Christensen, Silva, Rüdiger; Azpilicueta, Kanté, Jorginho,
Chilwell; Werner, Havertz, Mount
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