If Chelsea could savour the sense that history was repeating itself, Thomas Tuchel could enjoy the contrast with his past.
In 2021, as in 2012, Chelsea changed managers mid-season, came into a Champions League final as underdogs and conquered Europe. The first manager to lead different clubs into consecutive Champions League finals, Tuchel leaves Portugal with a different colour medal from last year.
Beaten with Paris Saint-Germain, a victor with Chelsea, he left his imprint on his second final.
Kai Havertz certainly did not feel guaranteed to start, but Tuchel’s faith in his compatriot was richly rewarded. Havertz has not always justified his reputation as a generational talent in a debut year in England pockmarked by coronavirus, injury and a goal drought, but a decidedly mixed campaign had the happiest of endings.
He exerted a huge influence even before he became the first Chelsea player to score the winning goal in a European Cup final. Christian Pulisic had scored in the semi-final, Hakim Ziyech in two previous games against City but Tuchel chose Havertz instead of either and he applied the crucial touch in an outstanding display of counter-attacking menace and defensive resolve.
But for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, there was only heartbreak. The Champions League trophy remains the only one to elude them, their first European final in 51 years – a record in itself – proof they have got closer, but the silverware remained agonisingly out of reach.
It was a traumatic night for Kevin de Bruyne, poleaxed in a challenge by Antonio Rudiger and substituted as he looked concussed; for others, the pain was not physical but emotional.
Perhaps City’s attempt at boldness backfired. Guardiola sprang a surprise by naming a side without either of his main holding midfielders, Rodri and Fernandinho, for only the second time this season, and incorporated Raheem Sterling in an attacking line-up.
The winger was charged with running in behind the Chelsea defence, a tactic that almost reaped an early dividend when Ederson found him with an inch-perfect 70-yard pass and Reece James and Edouard Mendy made vital interventions.
City began at pace as Guardiola’s choices made for an open game, with Chelsea able to break. If some predictions were that it would be a game of tactical chess, at times it resembled basketball instead. These were not sides looking to cancel each other out.
But Guardiola’s line-up meant City started without a defensive midfielder and Chelsea were able to get at their back four, which was afforded less protection than usual. It could have brought an earlier goal. Timo Werner’s misses have been a theme of Chelsea’s campaign. There were two more in the opening quarter of an hour, an embarrassing miskick and then a shot he stabbed at Ederson. Yet, as is also often the case, his pace and persistence posed problems. Werner’s magnificent movement helped bring the breakthrough, even without him touching the ball.
He dragged City’s centre-backs out of the way with a decoy run, Mason Mount supplied a through pass, Havertz burst beyond Oleksandr Zinchenko, evaded Ederson, who had left his box and slipped his shot into the unguarded net.
After Werner was withdrawn, Pulisic made for a speedy substitute and ought to have doubled their lead on a swift break that stemmed from the all-action N’Golo Kante winning the ball back.
But much of his finest work was defensive. Chelsea had less of the ball, but this was about organisation, determination and concentration.
Tuchel has built from the back and Chelsea’s latest clean sheet was all the more laudable as they lost Thiago Silva before half-time, the distraught Brazilian suffering a groin strain and being replaced by Andreas Christensen.
There had been some fine individual interceptions, whether a goal-saving Rudiger challenge on Phil Foden or a sliding clearance from Cesar Azpilicueta to deny Ilkay Gundogan a tap-in, but it was a triumph of the unit, a triumph of the tactics Tuchel introduced for his first match.
Both wing-backs were terrific, with the elusive Ben Chilwell troubling City on a series of raids. James, used as a centre-back in the FA Cup final, showed his precocity in his preferred position. City claimed in vain for a penalty when a Sterling shot hit him.
Meanwhile, Guardiola sought to alter the flow of the game with Fernandinho, as he finally turned to a defensive midfielder, either side of the arrivals of Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero, whose 390th and last City game was the biggest in their history.
But there was no fairytale farewell for him, no third Champions League for Guardiola. Instead, he suffered a third defeat in a few weeks to Tuchel.
He joins the 2012 hero Roberto Di Matteo in Chelsea folklore after having an astonishing impact. Chelsea were 10th in the Premier League before Tuchel’s first game. Now they are champions of Europe. Again.
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
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More from UAE Human Development Report:
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
The Little Things
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
Four stars
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Schedule for show courts
Centre Court - from 4pm UAE time
Johanna Konta (6) v Donna Vekic
Andy Murray (1) v Dustin Brown
Rafael Nadal (4) v Donald Young
Court 1 - from 4pm UAE time
Kei Nishikori (9) v Sergiy Stakhovsky
Qiang Wang v Venus Williams (10)
Beatriz Haddad Maia v Simona Halep (2)
Court 2 - from 2.30pm
Heather Watson v Anastasija Sevastova (18)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) v Simone Bolelli
Florian Mayer v Marin Cilic (7)
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%20Twin-turbocharged%204-litre%20V8%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20625%20bhp%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20630Nm%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh974%2C011%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RACECARD
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (PA) $50,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
6.35pm: Festival City Stakes – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic – Listed (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.45pm: Jumeirah Classic Trial – Conditions (TB) $150,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (D) 1,600m
8.55pm: Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Dubai Dash – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,000m
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
More from Neighbourhood Watch
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
