this is where every top-level footballer wants to be after a long season the champions league final
only two teams left in the battle for europe's premier club competition
my name's derek ray and i'm joined for commentary on this final tonight by lee dixon
it is chelsea facing manchester city good evening what a pleasure it is to be here with you derek
sitting over this magnificent stadium with arguably the best two teams well obviously
the best two teams in this competition this year because they're in the final and what a final
we've got the pitch looks fantastic the crowd are expecting there's the trophy just sitting there
and the players in the tunnel just about to do what they do best go out and play and entertain us
here's the lineup for chelsea and gonokante starts alongside giorgino in the center of midfield
and the idea is to have just the one striker up there trying to pose problems for the opposition
it is the game that the world truly focuses on the champions league final only two teams left
in the quest for european glory who's it going to be tonight lee well it's a toss of a coin for
me it's a really big night for everybody all that hard work leading up to pre-season training going
through your domestic league playing champions league on and off the winter break all of that
culminates in tonight very very big night for everybody concerned supporters
but most so the players they have to stay focused play the game not the occasion introducing the
starting players for manchester city edison stands between the posts yukai gundu on place with kevin
de bruyne in the center of the pitch and the centerpiece of the attack today is gabrielle jesus
corte christensen
mount possession given away
alexander zinchenko
and it's through ben diaz rodri
can they price them open now
and now they have the ball back
timo burner
later the girl that puts them ahead tremendous block
might be able to produce from this position chance to play it in alexander zinchenko
and a throw in for manchester city it'll
be
advantageous situation here for chelsea developing a deep delivery
chelsea's corner as they try to take the lead here
and firing it into the area well the keeper very decisive
has a go and the keeper there to make sure nothing untoward happens
corte on the ball rudiger chill well it did look on for them but not to be
gunduan
now zinchenko it's with gunduan
well they can say a big thank you to the goalkeeper that was
inspirational well that's as good as a goal at the other end brilliant save from the keeper
he's driven in the corner
and played in
gundogan really closing him down
giving the ball away
foden it is to be a throw-in
and now stones but he could really get at the opposition
i just couldn't keep the ball and there it is the halftime whistle
45 minutes separating these two sides from glory
the second half of the champions league final begins
and now stones
possession changes hands they get deception there
gabriel jesus
the brainerd great block from thiago silva
they've hit the front in the champions league final
oh they've got the noses in front can they keep it
well let's see the replay and look at the pace at which the counter attack happens
and then he's probably the easiest tapping he will ever get lovely stuff
well the girl again albeit from a different angle
so city get things going again and the earnest is on them to
erase the damage done by that concession
city certainly having the lion's share of possession but it's just whether they
can convert that possession into clear-cut chances
you sense they need to pick up the pace a little start utilizing the wide areas more
the back lines doing a decent job hopefully the forwards can do that as well
crisp tackling there's a slide rule pass can he keep his composure
wonderful chance i'll tell you what they're gonna be very hard to catch on the trophy maybe
well here's the goal again and it's a great ball to put him through
and then through on goal do you go for placement or do you go for power well he certainly wasn't
messing around was he absolutely smashes it past the keeper it's a really lovely finish
well he's turning into a real shocker this is the very reason derek i'm not a manager
so toe nail now
thiago silva and they have possession again
wonderful tackle given away by chelsea
rodri
good movement joao but cancelo stopped them just when they looked menacing
and attempting the true ball
well a top-notch piece of defensive judgment
gabriel jesus
now zinchenko alexander zinchenko and now kevin de bruyne
gabriel jesus the ball with rodri and it's gabrielle jesus
that's a very impressive piece of defending
habets oh he's through here still a chance
there's the goal surely now that is that
well let's look at this again magical football on the break surprise is the key and once he
gets himself settled with the keeper to beat he hammers it into the back of the net smashing goal
it's a massive lead and it's very hard to imagine them losing it now
alexander zinchenko inside the final two minutes of this contest
we're adding up all the stoppages we will have two extra minutes
and manchester city will go to their bench magnificently and intercepted
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
a night these chelsea players will never forget
well now for the official presentation
and that's 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 well this is the moment i love sharing it with the fans