91Èȱ¬

Image source, Reuters

Chelsea beat Villarreal 6-5 in a penalty shootout to lift the Uefa Super Cup for a second time after a draining 120 minutes of action ends 1-1 in Belfast.

Have a read of the report

We are back on Friday for the start of the Premier League. Ooh, how exciting.

Until then.

Chelsea

Chelsea's penalty hero Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy, the man he replaced late on in extra time, have been speaking to BT Sport.

Kepa: "It's not a typical situation but we arrived to penalties after Edouard did a fantastic job. Finally we won and we are so happy.

"I was ready because I knew this could happen. I tried to be ready mentally and physically."

Mendy: "I'm happy because we won. I knew since last year that if Kepa came on the pitch he would help the team.

"It's a team effort. We play for Chelsea and for success. We did this today together."

• The Champions League winners have now won the UEFA Super Cup in eight of the last nine seasons, while they had won just four of the previous nine before this run.
• For the third year in a row, the Super Cup has been won by a German manager (Jurgen Klopp in 2019, Hansi Flick in 2020 and Thomas Tuchel in 2021).
• Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has never lost against Spanish opposition in his managerial career, winning four and drawing five of his nine such games.

Chelsea

More from Thomas Tuchel to BT Sport: "We were very strong in the first 30 minutes then we lost easy balls. Second half we lost too many balls. They deserved the equaliser. We were very strong after conceding the goal."

On preparing for the weekend: "Mentally it's a good one. Physically it's the worst thing that could happen. Victory and a trophy helps regenerate."

On Hakim Ziyech's injury: "If you take a player out during the first half it's serious."

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel to BT Sport on his decision to switch keepers for the penalties: "It was not spontaneous. We talked about it with the goalkeepers after the first cup game against Barnsley. We had some statistics. We were well prepared.

"Kepa has the best percentage at saving penalties, the analysing guys and goalkeeping coaches showed me the data. We spoke to the players that this could happen when we play in knockout games. It's fantastic how Edouard accepted it.

"There is proof that Kepa is better in this discipline. They're team players. Edouard does not show the pride to not step off the field. He was happy to do it for the team and take this for the team."

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand on BT Sport: "It points towards the depth of the squad they've got. Them (Chelsea) and Manchester City have such an array of talent in all areas. They can take people out and the levels don't drop. Everyone else, there are players and the level drops."

BT Sport

Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole on BT Sport: "Kepa has had a tough year. They spent a lot of money on him. To have that moment, and the manager to show that faith in him...

"Thomas Tuchel can't miss. Everything he does works. We questioned him because of how well Mendy played but Kepa was fantastic in the shootout.

"It's the emotion. You win a trophy and you don't feel tired. You're excited about Saturday on the plane home.

"You can't see any weaknesses. It'll be Chelsea or Manchester City [for the title]."

Ohhhhhh......

....Cesar Azpilicueta hoists the trophy into the Belfast sky and ticker-tape rains down.

Add Romelu Lukaku to this Chelsea side and they become a formidable outfit.

And now it's Chelsea's turn to take the top prize.

Thomas Tuchel is up first and his team follow.

Jorginho gives the trophy a kiss, ANOTHER piece of silverware for the Italian midfielder.

The Chelsea players line up and applaud their Villarreal counterparts who go onto to stage to collect their runners-up medals.

BT Sport

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand on BT Sport: "Kepa has been under immense scrutiny since he came to the club. You saw after his save what he means to this squad. They were all over him.

"Obviously Thomas Tuchel knew something we didn't. Before every penalty was taken he was right up in the face of the Villarreal players. He's got something about him. He has personality and character."

Got to feel for Raul Albiol, the Villarreal skipper missed the vital spot-kick and is in tears with Chelsea players celebrating around him.

Stephen Warnock
Former England defender on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 5 Live

What a lovely moment that we are now seeing.

It was a big save by Kepa and what a big call from Tuchel to make that call to bring on the substitute goalkeeper.

The Champions League winners take the Super Cup.

What an inspired substitution by Thomas Tuchel, sending Kepa Arrizabalaga on in the 119th minute and the much-maligned Spaniard comes up trumps, saving two penalties in the shootout.

Image source, Getty Images

Substitute Kepa Arrizabalaga is the hero!

Chelsea win the Uefa Super Cup on penalties.

KEPA SAVES!!!!! It wasn’t the best penalty but Kepa still does well to get down low to his right and keep it out.

Raul Albiol must score. The skipper.