Chelsea wins 2021 UEFA Super Cup after defeating Villarreal 6-5 on penalties

UEFA 2020-21 Champions League winners Chelsea defeat UEFA Europa league champions Villarreal in the 2021 UEFA Super cup.

Goalkeeper Kepa came off the bench and saved two penalties in the shoot-out to push Chelsea past Villarreal after Gerard Moreno had cancelled out Hakim Ziyech’s goal in regulation time of the 2021 UEFA Super Cup.

Having dispatched Atlético and Real Madrid on their way to UEFA Champions League glory last season, Chelsea were understandably confident and commanding in the early stages against another Spanish opponent. Sergio Asenjo’s reflexes denied Timo Werner an early opener while N’Golo Kanté was at his meddling best as he robbed Gerard Moreno before firing just wide.

Thomas Tuchel’s men did break through in the 27th minute, though, as Kai Havertz’s cross was swept in by Ziyech, and Kurt Zouma should have increased the lead only to volley over. The Yellow Submarine offered more after falling behind, with Edouard Mendy thwarting Boulaye Dia and Alberto Moreno clattering the bar from a delicate cross by Gerard Moreno on the stroke of half-time.

Unai Emery’s side had been unruffled by setbacks when staying composed to see off English outfits Arsenal and Manchester United in their final two UEFA Europa League assignments last term, and those characteristics served them well after the resumption in Belfast. Gerard Moreno shot against a post following Mendy’s wayward goal-kick, but Villarreal pressed on and the striker was richly rewarded when he whipped Dia’s back-heel across Mendy to force extra time.

Chelsea checked the Spanish team’s momentum in the additional period and created the better chances as Christian Pulišić sliced wide and fellow substitute Mason Mount drew a smart stop from Asenjo. Intriguingly, they also replaced Mendy with Kepa in the dying seconds in readiness for the shoot-out, in which Havertz and Aïssa Mandi had early spot kicks saved.

Tuchel’s gamble paid off eventually when Antonio Rüdiger made it 6-5 and Kepa parried Raúl Albiol’s effort to give the Blues their second UEFA Super Cup.

Post-Match Reaction

Kepa, Chelsea goalkeeper: “It’s not a typical situation. Edouard and the rest of the team did a fantastic job. It was a tough game against a very difficult team, but we have the medals. It’s not a normal situation but I was ready, because I knew this could happen. I tried to be ready both physically and mentally.”

Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea coach: “We were well-prepared. We had a statistic that Kepa is the best in terms of saving penalties. The analysts showed me the data and then we spoke with the players [explaining] that this can happen in knockout games. It’s fantastic how Mendy accepts it. We were very strong in the first 30 minutes. Then we lost a bit of pace after our goal. Their equaliser was well-deserved. We invested more until the 120th minute and deserved to win.”

Unai Emery, Villarreal coach: “It’s an honour to represent this club, Villarreal and La Liga on a day like today. You cannot fault the players for anything because they’ve put in a fantastic effort.”

Gerard Moreno, Villarreal striker: “It wasn’t meant to be for us but today is a day to be proud. Proud of the team, of the fans, of what the club is, of what the people are. We’re now competing with the best. Chelsea were the favourites. For me, they’re the best team in the world.”