In the end, the European football season started exactly the way it finished last season – with Chelsea lifting a trophy. However, that’s only half the story of this morning’s (AEST) UEFA Super Cup in Belfast.
This week the entire football world has been grappling with the question – how do the smaller teams stop mega-rich clubs like PSG, Manchester City and Chelsea, powered by petro-dollars, from dominating? This morning, Villarreal, a Spanish team from a town the size of Port Macquarie, gave an inspiring answer.
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Chelsea, the most successful team in London, have a wage bill of over $530 million per season. In comparison Villarreal’s budget is nearly four times smaller at $137 million.
Tomorrow, it is widely reported that Chelsea will pay another $183 million just to bring in striker Romelu Lukaku – who Chelsea sold for $53 million in 2014 – from Inter Milan in Italy. But today, Villarreal pushed them all the way.
The score finished 1-1 after 120 minutes of play, and so penalties were needed to decide this match. They say experience counts for a lot in high-pressure penalty shootouts. Try telling that to 35-year-old Raul Albiol, a World Cup winner with Spain, who saw his decisive penalty saved by 26-year-old Kepa Arrizabalaga to see Chelsea prevail 6-5 in the shootout.
The match started like most expected it would – Chelsea dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Last season’s Champions League winners opened the scoring in the 27th minute through Hakim Ziyech.
Left wing-back Marcos Alonso played a delightful ball in behind the Villarreal defence for German international Kai Havertz and the 22-year-old, who scored the winner in last season’s Champions League final, put it on a plate for Ziyech to sweep the ball home.
Timo Werner, who is likely to lose his place in the starting XI once Lukaku arrives, will hope his coach Thomas Tuchel will notice his vital near post run that opened up the space for Ziyech to run into and score.
Chelsea could have been 3-0 up in the first half, if it wasn’t for some great goalkeeping from Villarreal’s Sergio Asenjo.
Just before half-time the match started to turn. Chelsea’s goal scorer Ziyech was forced to leave the field with a shoulder injury and Villarreal pounced after the three minute break in play.
Former Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno saw his 45th minute volley cannon off the crossbar and bounce inches away from the goal line. Chelsea held on to the 1-0 lead and got to half-time, but this was a warning sign that Villarreal would not die wondering.
Five minutes after the break, Villarreal striker Gerard Moreno saw his whipped shot tipped on to the post by Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy.
In the 65th minute, Tuchel made the somewhat strange decision to bring off three of his players at once, including captain N’Golo Kante. The French international had entered the pitch carrying last season’s Champions League trophy – a piece of silverware that is nearly as big as he is – and he left the field to a standing ovation.
Chelsea fans appreciated his on-field performance and they certainly would have felt his absence once he went off.
Jorginho, who recently was pivotal in Italy’s EURO 2020 triumph, replaced Kante but is unable to disrupt the opposition in midfield like the brilliant Frenchmen is. Villarreal took full advantage.
Unai Emery, who was often called a ‘fraud’ during his time in London with Arsenal, once again showed his tactical nous as he helped the Spanish side turn the game around. His side produced numerous positive patterns of play, and in the 73rd minute they found the breakthrough.
Gerard Moreno combined brilliantly with strike-partner Boulaye Dia before smashing the ball into the far corner to make it 1-1.
Little by little, Villarreal had regained control against Chelsea and with the scores tied at the end of 90 minutes, the match went to extra-time.
Both sides had chances to win it in the remaining 30 minutes, but neither could capitalise. As the match was destined for penalties it was the Villarreal fans who were up on their feet, singing and waving their scarves above their heads. Their fans were proud, that despite the vast financial difference, their club can still compete through intelligent play and determination.
With two minutes to go before the shoot-out, Tuchel made the bold decision to replace his starting goalkeeper Mendy for Spaniard Arrizabalaga. The gamble paid off for Chelsea.
Arrizabalaga, who has been heavily criticised during his time at Chelsea, proved to be the club’s hero. He saved twice during the shootout. First from Aissa Mandi and then from Albiol in sudden death.
It means it’s a second European trophy for Tuchel, who has been in charge for less than a year. Chelsea will look to build on that this season and secure a first Premier League title since 2017.
The team from London take home the silverware and tomorrow they’ll add Lukaku, but for today the team from Villarreal can be equally proud of their efforts – money isn’t the only factor in football.
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