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Talking points can come up when you least expect them. With a minute remaining of a monotonous and lethargic overtime that Chelsea and Villarreal clearly could have done without, Thomas Tuchel made his first daring move of the season. Kepa Arrizabalaga, a £ 71million player named as a Super Cup substitute, has stepped forward to replace Edouard Mendy. Tuchel’s strategy had to be fully justified as Kepa, fully to his right, fought off Raúl Albiol’s penalty to win the trophy for Chelsea. The scale of the Champions League winners’ celebrations – and the easily visible discouragement among Villarreal’s contingent – painted a picture of something that mattered.
Kepa’s contribution, so late, was crucial. And yet, it will be a surprise if he plays against Crystal Palace on Saturday. “We had to do what was right for the team,” said Tuchel. “Kepa has the best percentages to save penalties.” Data gurus have a lot to answer.
With Romelu Lukaku set to start soon for Chelsea, Tuchel must be happy. His side dominated the first half here, with the inability to take full advantage of that pressure likely to be offset by the return of the prolific Belgian striker. Villarreal, so nice to watch under Unai Emery, offered a lot more threat in the second half, but Chelsea looked – as they should be – the top team.
Tuchel had gone to great lengths during his pre-match media homework to stress the importance of a game that many would not without reason consider a glorified friendly, even going so far as to suggest it would be ” angry “if one of his players treated Villarreal. slightly.
This game was played in a larger, uplifting context. There was a time when Belfast would never have been deemed appropriate – or, to be precise, sure – for a renowned game like this. Northern Ireland’s societal growth, the redevelopment of Windsor Park itself and the country’s international football momentum launched by Michael O’Neill were all factors that made this site choice wise. European or world events no longer need to be sheltered from the rebirth of a city.
Chelsea supporters, many of whom are locally based, naturally made up the bulk of the 13,000 spectators, but two sizable pockets of Villarreal supporters, in their glowing yellow, added to the sense of the occasion. The fact that Emery paid no attention to the limits of the technical zone, even during seemingly mundane parts of the game, suggested that he, too, was delighted to be here.
Tuchel created a slight surprise by deploying Trevor Chalobah among a three-man defensive line. It was the 22-year-old’s first competitive start for Chelsea, after loan spells that stretched from Ipswich to FC Lorient. Still, the Chelsea head coach had hinted before kick-off that unorthodox selections were likely.
He believes Timo Werner will benefit from the experience of his first season in England. Waste remains Werner’s biggest problem; he should have scored from close range after six minutes, but instead allowed Sergio Asenjo to push the ball away. As N’Golo Kanté unleashed a 20-yard-wide shot, Chelsea had an early grip on the game.
This was underlined by a magnificent first goal. Marcos Alonso fed marauder Kai Havertz on the left flank, the latter delivering a threatening cross that narrowly escaped Werner. Hakim Ziyech appeared to crush his shot but, with Asenjo exposed, he found the net anyway. Emery’s commotion was quite a sight.
Villarreal responded through recently recruited Boulaye Dia. Mendy cleverly saved at the feet of his Senegalese international compatriot. Chelsea fought back with Alonso and Kurt Zouma, who both had good opportunities to double the lead before the break. Seconds before the break, Alberto Moreno smashed a volley under Chelsea’s crossbar.
At this point, Tuchel had received a yellow card for protesting the referee and Chelsea had made a forced change. Ziyech, until then a threat to Villarreal’s defense, landed badly after challenging a header into his own penalty area. Christian Pulisic replaced Ziyech, who left the stage squeezing his right shoulder. Tuchel later confirmed that the injury looked “serious”.
Villarreal came within the width of a parity restoration post six minutes after the resumption. A poor clearance from Mendy landed at the feet of Dia, who fed Gerard Moreno. With the time and space to choose his place at an angle, Gerard Moreno has instead mixed his angles. Villarreal was visibly fortified by luck, Chalobah’s last minute permission was needed to keep Dia from nodding.
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Villarreal, however, had to claim the equalizer their game deserved at this point. Dia provided a magnificent back heel that Gerard Moreno ran on before passing past Mendy. This glorious attack movement – assisted by Antonio Rudiger offering possession to the Spaniards, it should be noted – made Emery dance with joy. Rudiger then atone by scoring Chelsea’s final penalty.
Alonso came closest to winning the game for Chelsea under normal circumstances, his fierce shot rippling through the side net. Pulisic pumped up his lines when it looked easier to score. Mendy didn’t look at all disturbed to be summoned to the bench. “He accepted it,” Tuchel said. Not that he really had a choice. Tuchel remains the Chelsea man with the golden touch.
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