All eyes will be on the Estadio do Dragao in Porto today, as Manchester City and Chelsea will battle it out in an enticing all-English UEFA Champions League final (UCL), EKO HOT BLOG gathered.
The Sky Blues will hope to secure their first-ever European trophy, while their London rivals will look to salvage their season by getting their hands on the biggest prize in European club football.
Even though the teams are familiar rivals in the domestic scene, everything goes out the window in a showpiece clash like this one, and Chelsea and Manchester City will enter the game on an even keel.
On that note, let’s take a look at five players from either team to keep an eye on in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final.
Honourable mentions: Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) and Edouard Mendy (Chelsea).
Phil Foden’s meteoric rise at Manchester City is well documented. At just 21 years of age, the player has already established himself among the very best in the business and has become a key player in Pep Guardiola’s star-studded squad.
Foden exudes confidence and style that belies his young years. He possesses an uncanny knack of drifting past opponents. So he’ll fancy his chances against a Chelsea defence that hasn’t been at its the most resolute, especially in recent games.
Foden has already registered his career-best tally of 16 goals this season, but that could get better on Sunday as Manchester City look to become the newest Champions League winners.
Chelsea have a number of stars like Thiago Silva, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, or even Timo Werner. who could be key on Saturday. But we’re going with the indefatigable N’Golo Kante, an underrated operator in Chelsea’s starry squad.
Kante’s ball-winning ability is impressive, while his passes are accurate, attributes that endear him to any manager.
However, the Frenchman will have his hands full against Manchester City’s midfield. He could face a tall task in keeping Kevin De Bruyne quiet, but it’s a job he has done before and will hope to accomplish once again.
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Manchester City talisman Kevin De Bruyne could be the difference against Chelsea in the Champions League final. Despite being plagued by injuries, the Belgian has had another fabulous campaign for Manchester City, one that could get better on Saturday.
The Belgian possesses excellent technique, has impressive passing prowess, and his hold-up play is second to none. Manchester City will look to De Bruyne for inspiration against Chelsea. His return of ten goals this season suggests De Bruyne could be a goalscoring threat on his day.
De Bruyne was the Man of the Match in the Round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals. If he produces an encore in the final, Manchester City will fancy their chances of winning the biggest title in their history.
Chelsea’s player of the season, Mason Mount, was their standout performer in the Premier League. So the Blues will look to him to deliver in the biggest game of their season.
At just 22, Mount will do his burgeoning reputation no harm by producing a big performance against Manchester City.
Mount has been at the top of his craft this season and could alter the course of a match with his ability to split the opposition rearguard with inch-perfect defence-splitting through-balls.
Despite his brace on the last day of the Premier League season, Sergio Aguero is unlikely to start against Chelsea on Saturday. But the Argentine, who will be playing his last game for Manchester City in a successful decade-long stint at the Premier League champions, is almost certain to play some part in the game.
Aguero has a phenomenal record against Chelsea, scoring 15 goals in 22 games, the joint-most he has managed against a single opponent, along with Newcastle United. So he will fancy his chances of another productive outing on Saturday.
His brace on the final Premier League matchday suggests he has found his form at the right time. Aguero would want to end his Manchester City career on a high by winning the biggest title of his career. Chelsea have been suitably warned.
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