By Azuka Christopher- London, UK
TUE 25 MAY, 2021-theGBJournal- After more than nine months and over 200 games it’s down to two English football giants- Manchester City and Chelsea FC- for Europe’s most decorated club cup at the Estadio do Dragao, Porto.
Both teams will be looking to cart away not only the trophy but also the huge cash price of $23 million (19 million Euros) for winning. The price is so huge that even the losing finalists will receive as much as $18 million (15 million Euros). This excludes the accumulated rewards earned during each round of the tournament.
UEFA figure shows that a single victory at the tournament is worth as much as $3 million while a draw fetches the team $1 million. Man City drew one game and won eleven group stages winning as much $34 million while Chelsea won ($25 million) eight games, drew three and lost one.
Today’s game will see a full display of attacking and defensive talents on both sides. City Manager Pep Guadiola will be looking to in-form top scores Riyad Mahrez (5 goals), Kevin De Bruyne and Bernado Silva to replicate the ‘Paris Massacre’ in Porto. City swept to the final after they demolished last season finalist PSG in Paris.
Chelsea on other hand has been beaten only five times since German coach Thomas Tuchel took over as Manager. Tuchel will be hoping on his solid defence, counting also on record-breaking goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Mendy has kept 8 clean sheets in 11 Champions League games this season, the highest in a season by a goalkeeper for an English side in the competition’s history.
Tuchel will be first coach to take two different clubs to the European Cup Final in successive seasons.
‘’We are very aware that Manchester City are the benchmark. But in football you are always able to close the gap,’’ Tuchel said of the titanic clash.
Guardiola said ‘’I’m the happiest man in the world to here. It’s a privilege, it’s an honour.’’
The happiest man will however be revealed after 90 minutes of brawling beginning 21: 00 CET (20: 00)
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