Right from the round 16 of this year's UCL, I've been hoping to see an all English/English Finals and it finally came through. For many years, the Spanish two major teams (Barcelona and Real Madrid) had been dominating so much in the Semifinals and the finals of the UCL, and the English teams had always been around the corner until we had the likes of Paris Saint German and Bayern Munich playing and pressing hard to be dominants in the UCL Semifinals and Final space.
In the last 21 year, at least a Spanish team has appeared in the UCL finals 11 times out of 21 times, and that's to show how dominant they've been over the years but recently there has been much strength in the strive to always have Spanish teams out before the finals.
Not even a Spanish team has been able to make it to the UCL final for the past three seasons now and that's the highest that has happened for a Spanish team not to make a UCL final in the past 21 years. It would really be a huge record to hold down if no Spanish team would also make it again into the next UCL finals.
THE ENGLAND'S STRUGGLE!
Starting this season in the UCL, it would have been a visible prediction that Manchester City would make the final even though it's been 51 years they emerged last as a UCL finalist. On the other hand, Chelsea, though they had and have the quality players needed but there has been a lot of misuse within the team under manager - Frank Lampard which has caused them the possibility of probably not qualifying for the next UCL unless they win this UCL final.
It's been a tough season for Chelsea and it's been rather rosy for Manchester City because so far this season, they've been the most reliable team in the "big" Europe and seeing them at this UCL finals is something they actually worth and just have to win. Chelsea had won it once in 2012 against Bayern Munich and since then it as been a struggle that hasn't gotten to even the Semifinals but now here they are at the finals with a team yet to lift the trophy for once!
It's definitely going to be a war at Istanbul but there must surely be a winner and I hope the better team wins. One can't address Manchester City for now as the better team considering what Chelsea has been playing in the recent weeks and funny enough, they just slammed Manchester City out of the FA Cup, and they'll be visiting the same Manchester City at Etihad this weekend.
This weekend's match at Etihad isn't going to be that much of a tough match knowing fully well that it's not a need for Manchester City but a great need for Chelsea to win to at least be sure of making the UCL qualification quite visible. But the match is definitely going to be one worth watching.
THE SEMIFINAL WAR!
The Semifinals for this season's UCL wasn't so soft as it used to be on many occasions perhaps because of the presence of more teams yet to lift the trophy for once (Manchester City and Paris Saint German) even Chelsea had it just once. Real Madrid had it too many times already, and they had the most of it in all Europe.
Right from the first leg at Paris, I personally knew Paris Saint German had played with fire to have allowed Manchester City to secure two away goals but then, I was only hoping they won't get burnt.
I didn't see the first leg (match) but I saw the second leg which was few days back. There is something about Pep ( Manchester City's Manager) as a manager, he doesn't know much about defending but scoring goals, and he tried to qualify using the that part of him which isn't good enough. Pep played with defend and Etihad!
Knowing fully well that Pep came to block his goal post, Pochettino (Paris Saint German's Manager) made a mistake which I personally believe many matured and experienced managers won't make. He refused to attack more. For a Manger like Sir Alex Ferguson, I trust him to risk Mbappe in that very second leg of the Semifinals.
PSG needed more goals and yet they played Icardi upfront, a player who isn't good in the air. Icardi got lost in the 18 box with several beautiful crosses from Di Maria. After the match, I said some comments and her people talk ill of Neymar's performance but personally, for that kind of a match, I don't expect much from him because he's a fancy footballer who can only earn the team free kicks and perhaps penalties in such a match but the team needed more.
They needed players with good shots, jump power and speed, and majority of these things was hidden on the bench with Mbappe. Even if Mbappe had played, Manchester City might still qualify but PSG would definitely score at least a goal.
Di Maria played and played well to a point of frustration after many beautiful cross attempts and yet no heads on it. His frustration was justified but the manner at which he got the red card wasn't so cool, he could have done better.
I think the whole match was just a dirty lesson for Mario Pochettino.
I was among the people who believed Chelsea won't be able to qualify for the final since they refused to win in Spain but I guess Hazard isn't what we thought he was anymore.
It was totally obvious Real Madrid was coming to play heavy attacks at Stamford Bridge and sincerely, Benzema really impressed me, Vinicius Junior also play well on his flank but Hazard didn't get much of those interesting moves on his end.
I must say - Thomas Tuchel is indeed a well to do Manager. At first, I thought to myself, why would this Man keep Pulisic on bench in this kind of match? Then I later realized he gambled the first half of the match and luckily for me Werner got the team a giveaway goal. And then Pulisic coming in the second half was a big stress for Real Madrid, the American knows how well to move and use the ball, the connection between himself, Kante and Mount is that which is always enough to create big and bigger threats, and eventually, his performance sealed the qualification for Chelsea because I watched and saw his contribution and attitude towards creating the second goal, there was so much confidence and creativity, and that was something Frank Lampard had misused earlier this season.
If there was actually anyone who deserved more accolades last night, it was definitely Mendy, the Senegalese gave the game all he had and that brought Chelsea so much joy, Courtois made some many saves as there was so many targets from Chelsea on him, but Mendy saved Chelsea!
Manchester City vs Chelsea at the finals, I am not a fan of any of the two teams but I'm happy the trophy is coming to England. May the best team win!
All pictures are screenshots on my mobile phone which I took while streaming the matches.
