Chelsea best Real Madrid and are Heading to the Champions League Final in Istanbul

Chelsea Football Club is heading to Istanbul and no I’m not talking about global, neutral venues via the super league. I’m talking about the Champions League Final.

Tuchel’s Blues bossed Real Madrid and sent them home sulking. Since taking over in late January, Thomas Tuchel has only lost 2 out of the 24 matches played in all competitions, he has the Blues in the FA Cup Final, and now, for the first time since that night in Munich… he has the Blues in the Champions League Final.

Tuchel is Incredible

Thomas Tuchel’s impact is something of a phenomenon. He took over when the club was reeling under Frank Lampard as the Blues were in ninth place and he now has them in fourth place and in two finals. The resurrection of the careers of Chelsea veterans such as Antonio Rudiger and Jorginho has been nothing short of a spectacle to watch and in a few short months, he has gotten the very best of out of world-class midfielder, N’golo Kante, and has him playing some of the best football of his career since the World Cup in 2018. Let’s get into it.

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Kante and Jorginho Show Madrid Midfield Levels

Scrolling Twitter before the tie, it was all Madrid. Benzema this, Modric that. Kroos chatting and people creating shrines to Casemiro’s ability to protect the back-line. Enter N’golo Kante and Jorginho. The Chelsea duo shouldered the burden of going toe to toe with Madrid’s elite midfield trio alone as Mateo Kovacic was sidelined with an injury and both Chelsea players put in an incredible 180 minutes over both legs.

Didier Deschamps was definitely grinning ear to ear as he watched Kante dismantle the best midfield in Europe twice in a little over a week ahead of the Euros this summer. Last night, Kante was named UEFA’s Man of the Match, and rightfully so. He practically took Luka Modric out of the match forcing him to drop back in between the center-backs as he tried to make things happen. Kante feasted on an aging Real Madrid midfield and along with Jorginho, he gave the Spanish newspapers plenty to talk about as he ran the tie.

Kante was not only a nuisance for Madrid’s midfield, he also won the ball multiple times and helped spurred attacks for Chelsea in key areas. In one of those instances, he caught Madrid in possession and helped spur attacks that led to the second goal.

I honestly can’t believe that some people wanted to sell this guy last year. I get that he had an injury-plagued season but he is not only world-class, but he is also simply the best on the planet at what he does and I am so thankful that he is Chelsea.

Jorginho is a god damn baller. I’ll eat my words any day of the week and I was wrong about him. He has been class since Tuchel’s takeover and he was class yet again last night. He was unfazed matching up against Real’s midfield and like Kante, he was instrumental in breaking up Madrid attacks and catching them in possession. Plus his passing range has evolved a LOT. He is always looking to push the ball forward rather than passing back or spraying it out wide.

Plus, his mentality is needed at Chelsea. Last night he practically broke down post-match, crying and kissing the pitch showing the world what that moment meant for him. He has been a massive player for Chelsea under Tuchel. The club better not sell this man in the summer. Jorginho is Chelsea and we are lucky to have him.

Kante and Jorginho ran the damn show and I have no doubt that they’ll continue to be massive down the stretch as Chelsea faces two finals and a tough spell of Premier League fixtures.

The Whole Squad

As brilliant as Kante and Jorginho were, it seemed that last night’s match was the point where everything clicked. The trio of Mount, Havertz and Werner spelled major problems for Real’s defense and Edouard Mendy was sensational in goal as he made some massive saves and kept Madrid goal-less even with Benzema knocking.

Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christesen, and Thiago Silva were sound as we barely saw any threatening movements from any Madrid attacker outside of Benzema. Ben Chilwell is showing how good of a signing he truly is and silencing a large portion of the fanbase that wasn’t amused with him being brought in and on the other flank, Cesar Azpilicueta left it all on the pitch as he stifled former star Eden Hazard and further cemented himself as a Chelsea legend.

DAZN

Christian Pulisic came on and dealt the knockout blow to an already shaky Madrid defense as he made a series of dangerous runs, one of which led to an assist as he dragged Ramos and Courtois out from in front of the goal so Mount could slot home the pass from the American.

Onwards and Upwards

Tuchel’s system is working and it’s working against some of the best teams in Europe. Next for Chelsea is a Premier League clash with league leaders, Manchester City. A victory for Pep’s City would secure the Premier League title for the club in Manchester, something that Chelsea can’t let happen given the rivalry, especially this season.

Man City dismantled Chelsea 3-1 in their first Premier League meeting this season and then Chelsea knocked them out of the FA Cup in the semi-finals just weeks ago. Now, Chelsea will take them on in the Prem with the hopes of at least delaying their inevitable Premier League celebrations and Chelsea will also look to make a statement against the side they will take on in the Champions League final. 

Now, in May, there is everything to play for at Chelsea Football Club. From a season that looked done and dusted to a season where multiple trophies can be hoisted and much celebrated. Not bad for a rebuild! As always Up the Blues!