Pat Nevin said he is impressed by what Thomas Tuchel did to the Chelsea fans at the Estadio do Dragao during Saturday’s Champions League final win over Manchester City.
It was a pleasant surprise to any Blues fan that Chelsea were quite expansive in the first half and managed to create several good chances.
Mason Mount actually created more chances (three) in the first 45 minutes than the entire Manchester City side combined.
Chelsea missed the first few chances, but eventually, Kai Havertz found the net just before half-time, thanks to a brilliant pass from Mount.
It was a bit more difficult for Chelsea to get into the final third after the break, but given they had the lead, they certainly did not mind.
Manchester City, on the other hand, introduced their strikers; Kun Aguero and Gabriel Jesus onto the pitch to boost their attack.
Chelsea had to dig their heels in and defend their lead. Manchester City were inching closer to finding an equaliser.
According to Nevin, there were clearly some tired legs among the Chelsea team at that point, but fortunately, Tuchel knew exactly what to do.
“There was a moment with five, ten minutes to go — and we were wilting,” the Chelsea icon told the club’s Matchday Live programme.
“We were wilting a little bit, you coud see the tiredness.
“Thomas Tuchel, he turned around to the Chelsea fans and he bellowed at them, to get behind [the team].
“You don’t need to do it with the Chelsea fans, you just need to ask.
“The noise from the Chelsea fans was absolutely incredible. And the effect that it had on everyone around the ground.
“Every player was lifted, they got that bit more energy.
“The City players looked and thought, ‘Oh, we don’t need that.’ And the City fans had no reaction at all.
“Thomas Tuchel knew the moment to turn around and get those fans [behind the team].”
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