and here it is the last lap in the season-long race for the trophy millions of viewers from
around the world are tuning in for the biggest final in club football the champions league
final a warm welcome from me derek ray joined here in the commentary box as always by the
former arsenal and england defender lee dixon and with the atmosphere building to fever pitch
we're just minutes away from kickoff time it is manchester city taking on chelsea well it's an
absolute pleasure derek to be here very very lucky indeed to be broadcasting to millions and millions
of people let alone watching this fantastic game i'm sure the players are a little bit nervous as
well with that audience looming in the background tuning in on their televisions it's gonna be a
great night i'm very excited to be here hopefully we get the game that this tournament deserves
introducing the starting players for manchester city
and they are a team lead known for their aggressive high pressing well absolutely that
takes a lot of hard work a lot of organization force the opposition to make early passes
the weakness of it if you beat the high press you can get exposed at the back
and this is it the final of the uefa champions league it's where everyone wants to be only two
sides can accomplish that feat and lee it's going to be fascinating to see what happens tonight
well it is it's the big party it will be after the game but as players it's very difficult to
try and stay in the moment and not get carried away and that's the job of the senior players in
the dressing room but also the coach look around your team see the calm ones have a
word with them get them to pass the message on stick to the game plan go out and win the game
and this is how it looks for chelsea antonio rudiger starts alongside thiago
silva in central defense and golo kante starts alongside georginio in the center of midfield
and the idea is to have just the one striker up there trying to pose problems for the opposition
rodriguez gabriel jesus
the ball with rodrigue gabriel jesus now
well lee one thing we know is that our hosts are very capable when they have the ball
we often see much more possession as they work in little triangles with short passing
you have to conclude it's going to be tough for their opponents to get into the game in
the early stages yeah it really is it can be so frustrating as you're almost
a bystander for long periods of the game it's very attractive to watch some would
argue it's the correct way to play the game i tend to agree with them given away by [ __ ]
oh a nice looking pass now will they do it from here another classic example of how to
intercept
take it away
defending and it needed to be the tickets thank you
stones
it's with gundam
and plenty of space for this chelsea attack wanted to keep it but couldn't
gabrielle jesus
the ball with rodri and they'll be happy to have regained possession
attacking possibilities for chelsea in with a chance well that is how to nullify the opposition
strength and control a big part of his game so a throw in here gabrielle jesus
and now kevin de bruyne
mares
oh that's a completely wasted throw in
well chelsea being afforded too much space here
he's got to score you know i don't think the goalkeeper will be the slightest bit bothered
by that effort well he won't want to watch that on the replay i tell you he was way way wider
derek neither side has done enough in this game there's a lack of quality all round it
really has been a poor game but there's still time left can somebody be the hero
i'm sterling but he's been a bit casual in possession a real opening now
for chelsea they've hit the front in the champions
league final oh they've got the noses in front can they keep it
but it's good play you might question the defending but i prefer to be positive
really good build-up and an easy finish slightly
different vantage point in terms of the goal that we're scoring
well the manager's showing signs of frustration
they need to improve if they're going to get something out of this game derek
so the action continues and city looking to offer a swift response to that
setback gabrielle jesus
now they aren't on the wrong end of the score line but lee your overall thoughts on their
current situation well i'll have to give city six out of 10 so far they've been the nearly team it's
close bit more aggressive in midfield get the ball into wide areas a little bit more try and stretch
the opposition over the top towards raheem sterling the first half here comes to an end
45 minutes separating these two sides from glory
the second half of the champions league final begins
chill well oh they've lost it
alexander zinchenko
and by sterling a deft clearance
and breaking at pace with menace
superb counter but no reward well dynamic football
utilizing their pacing forwards to full effect just missing the finish
stones and a throw in it's going to be
and manchester city will go to their bench
bernardo silva now zinchenko
ruben diaz
half an hour remaining then
aguero
a potential danger here alexander zinchenko
making sure nothing came of it chelsea are really struggling in
terms of possession but they won't mind without the win in this game
they're sucking their opponents onto them and with the pace they've got great opportunity
well here's the replay and it's a lovely quick counter attack that sets up the chance and when he
gets through to the keeper he just smashes it past him gives him no chance to think a lovely finish
so toenail now goal for chelsea number seven angola kante
my porch
rodriguez it's with bernardo silva
georginio
strong play here inside the last quarter of an hour
stones
matters aguero in the middle crucial intervention just then amid impending danger
and a chance for him on the flank oh he's through here but he knew he had to get to the ball
and he did and chelsea win the corner and firing it into the area gets his glove on it
the ball and unable to keep possession
now can they make something happen the keeper was never likely to be in trouble
then we've had the official word there will be a minimum of two added minutes
harvest well he's lost it chelsea have returned to the high altar of european football
champions league winners well you have to say they deserve it as well
all those training sessions that toil earlier in the season the 10 months of the season or so and
now they've got the rewards be respectful to the opposition as well make sure you congratulate them
on a good final before you celebrate with your teammates unlike these chelsea players will never
forget well now for the official presentation
and as a football only in this case as a chelsea footballer this is exactly where
you'd want to be well exactly getting on to that podium huge amount of effort to get there
but this is the this is the icing on the cake actually watching your captain pick the trophy
up sharing in that moment it's a beautiful trophy as well derek it's chelsea's moment
champions league winners this season and my goodness they deserve it
brilliant moment they'll be celebrating long into the night i'm sure and then believe it
or not they'll be focusing in the next few days on next season no doubt that's how it works but
for now it's all about this achievement look up with the big ears as it's affectionately known
this is the moment derek's sharing it with the supporters you get a chance
to take it a little bit closer to those stands let them enjoy the experience with you
and the families are up there in the stands as well a brilliant occasion
it took fire as well as ice on the pitch necessary qualities