The best team does not necessarily win in competitive sports. It’s not always the smarter one that wins. Chelsea’s Champions League victory, defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the final in Porto on Saturday, epitomizes this truism.
Pep Guardiola’s City was widely regarded as Europe’s greatest team this season. After a decade of domestic domination, Saturday was supposed to be the day Manchester City finally delivered in Europe.
Guardiola’s tactical tinkering, on the other side, aided Thomas Tuchel’s methods. Chelsea controlled the game admirably, allowing only one attempt on target for the English champions. It was the London club’s second Champions League triumph.
Guardiola’s choice not to start a holding midfielder was disastrous in retrospect. City prefers to have control of the ball and the game’s tempo, but they were unable to do it this time. Chelsea took advantage of City’s lack of a shield in front of their defense in the first half, scoring the game-winning goal in the 42nd minute through rookie striker Kai Havertz following a magnificent Mason Mount ball through the yawning opening the advanced defense had left.