Here’s Jacob Steinberg’s report from Abu Dhabi.
Steven Wingrove gets in touch: “Just have to counter Jack’s claim that Brazilians put aside club differences to support “the Brazilian team”. That may be the case in the notoriously top-flight-free Brasília, but here in São Paulo, everyone who is not Paleimerense was supporting Chelsea (even me and I’m Liverpool). It all kicked off here in the road in the closing minutes with insults being hurled from house to house as the celebrations by Corinthianos, São Paulinos and Santistas started!”
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Up go Chelsea, at last, and they get to meet Gianni Infantino too, continuing his role as the Fifa suit who does an impression of “Shake Hands” off Boys From The Blackstuff. Edouard Mendy looks happy; he won the AfCon just six days ago. Big hugs between Azpilicueta and Infantino. Then, off goes Gianni, of course, to hand over the trophy and it’s done and confirmed. Chelsea celebrate being champions of the world. The Palmeiras fans clap politely.
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If you’re wondering, the medal ceremonies are still ongoing and Chelsea haven’t been up to get their medals.....it’s taken longer than extra time.
Translation corner: “If Jack in Brasiíia is happy about the Chelsea win, he means “força Chelsea” (power to Chelsea) as “fora Chelsea” means “Chelsea out”… just sayin’ (Martin, former resident of Brasília, happy Chelsea fan).”
The Chelsea players get to receive their medals, and Gianni Infantino will do the honours, with Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck up on the podium. Cesar Azpilicueta receives the Fifa Fair Play award, the sole survivor of losing the final in 2012. First, Palmeiras get the awards, with Dudu winning the silver medal for second-best player.
Thomas Tuchel speaks to Channel 4.
In the end if you score late, you need luck but we were relentless, we did not stop trying. We took the effort and we didn’t give up. The penalty does not look nervous but of course he was nervous, he knows what was at stake. I am happy for him. I am a part in it, and I am happy to have the chance. We said in the dressing room what an opportunity, everyone is jealous to play a game like this, and as boys we all dream to have finals like this. We wanted to play with no regrets, and there’s still things to win and it never stops.
Kai Havertz speaks to Channel 4.
Amazing, champions of Europe, now champions of the world, an incredible feeling. I was nervous, it was as a big penally. It was good that I kept my nerve and I was very happy. I think I was third penalty taker, Jorginho and Rom were out. The rest of the players gave me their trust, I dreamed always of of this, an amazing feeling. I am thankful for everyone, my family, my girlfriend, it’s all for them.
Palmeiras are destroyed, and can count themselves very unlucky. Is ball to hand a penalty? Probably, but it seemed terribly unfair. Palmeiras’s quest for the trophy continues and Chelsea can begin the celebrations in Abu Dhabi. Kai Havertz is the man.
Kai Havertz, let slip the dogs of war
Champions of the World! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/jhzXXDL26Q
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 12, 2022
Jack’s back: “Won’t lie, I’m happy for Chelsea but my local neighbourhood know me as the only Brit and I may need to lie low for a few days! Alternatively, I will be hanging my Union Jack from the window and accepting all that comes my way. Fora Chelsea! Fora Havertz!”
Chelsea are champions of the world!
That’s it, Chelsea have done it, and have won a complete set of trophies since Roman Abramovich took over the club (let’s not forget the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1971).
Red card for Palmeiras!
120+5 min: A red card for Luan, who conceded the penalty for fouling a clean through Havertz. He leaves the field in tears. He’s had a miserable few minutes and will probably remember this for the rest of his life.
120+3 min: A foul on Saul buys time, and the clock goes past the three minutes added on. Navarro charges on and loses the ball, only for it to go down the other end. Saul goes down, and there’s a VAR call for a possible red card. Off goes the ref to have a look.
120+2 min: Not much football being played at the moment. The tears of the Palmeiras fans are filling the screens.
120 min: Into the last minute though there may be a few more to follow. The Palmeiras plan hasn’t come off, and penalties look a distant dream. There’s some delay as Gomez and Thiago Silva clash. The Palmeiras bench are raging as only three minutes are added. Abel Fereira has been booked, too.
118 min: Kai Havertz cost a fortune and we haven’t seen the best of him. But it looks like he’s scored the winner in the Champions League final and now the Club World Cup final. They’ve made worse investments, it has to be said.
Goal! Chelsea 2-1 Palmeiras (Havertz, 117 pen)
Azpilicueta, the captain, takes the ball, but Havertz takes it off him. And he steps up, so coolly and slots it to the left, and Weverton goes the wrong way.
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Chelsea get a penalty!
114 min: Handball appeal! Chelsea want a penalty. The ball goes dead after Weverton knocks the ball behind. There’s some VAR in the offing. And the Italian ref goes over to look. It’s hit the hand of Luan as Azpilicueta swings and misses. An echo of the Palmeiras equaliser.
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112 min: Both teams far slower than in normal time, running through glue, both of them though Chelsea seem far fitter. Close! Ziyech pings in the ball, and Havertz has the ball whipped away from his head just as he seemed destined to nod in.
111 min: Rudiger plays in Werner down the wing and he’s full of energy right now, but Sarr, another sub, looks a bit tired. Werner tries one from distance, and it’s over but he’s missed by far wide this season.
109 min: Timo Werner’s job is to scamper down the left, while Ziyech is trying to do the same on the other wing. The Moroccan’s ball comes in and Havertz clatters into Weverton. Free-kick that Palmeiras take their time over
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107 min: Palmeiras probably want penalties, Chelsea would prefer to win this game in the last 15 minutes. That’s the equation at hand here.
106 min: Thomas Tuchel looked crazed in his half-time team talk while Abel Ferreira, the Palmeiras coach, seemed calmer as he allowed his players to take on fluids.
The second half of extra time
Both teams looked drained by the heat and the occasion.
105 min: Late flurry saw Navarro baulked by Rudiger then Scarpa scream out when tackled by Ziyech. The one minute of time added on ticks by. Here comes the second half of extra time.
104 min: A queue of Chelsea players climb high in the Palmeiras box and end up conceding a collective foul for their brute force. At the other end, Wesley is booked for a tactical foul. It’s not been a dirty game in truth.
103 min: Rare Palmeiras territory comes to an end as Rocha, the full-back is offside. A very tired Dudu leaves the field as Rafael Navarro comes on.
101 min: Dudu is cutting a lonely figure whenever Palmeiras try to attack, and relieve the pressure.
100 min: Chelsea piling it on, Palmeitas back in numbers to defend as more and more corners are counting up.
99 min: Off the woodwork, as Werner again gets down the left but offside before Pulisic deflects the ball off the far angle.
98 min: Sarr sees glory, and smashes the ball miles off the goal and some way into the stands.
97 min: Werner shows off his speed down the wing and hits the byline, only to hit the defender with his cross. There’s not been enough of him in this game since replacing Lukaku.
96 min: Pulisic fouled by Danilo and Ziyech will hit the free-kick into the Palmeiras box, but it’s cleared by Jailson.
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94 min: Ziyech scored in the Super Cup final win over Villarreal and that undoubtedly entered the thinking of Tuchel. Though that went to penalties, too.
93 min: Palmeiras made no changes, and have perhaps been practising penalties for months for this one.
Into extra-time
91 min: Back we go on, with Christensen and Kovacic off, and Sarr and Ziyech on. That looks an attacking change from Tuchel and Christensen had pulled up with cramp.
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A missive from Brazil from Jack: “I’m a Brit living in Brasilía, Brasil and the fierce local rivalries are kind of put to one side for this game. I was just out and passed a bar full of Flamengo fans who were uproariously celebrating the equaliser by singing Flamengo chants and telling the Palmeiras players to “Eat my arsehole”. I won’t be cheering a Chelsea win for the sake of my health!”
When Romelu Lukaku scored that header, it looked like Chelsea would be kings of the world but then came that Thiago Silva handball. The Brazilians have often looked more likely since then, with Lukaku off the field.
Full-time: Chelsea 1-1 Palmeiras (into extra time)
Weverton does well with the corner, punching clear, and Palmeiras try to see out the time. And they manage to do so, and extra time is on its way.
90+4 min: Pulisic tries to get away in midfield but is fouled, as Chelsea pile on pressure and force a corner with it.
90+2 min: Havertz forces a corner, and Gianni Infantino is giggling away in the stands, the corner is cleared, but only as far as Werner, whose ball back in was cleared by Gomez with Weverton was flapping a little.
90 min: Free-kick chance for Chelsea, and it falls to Pulisic from the right-hand side. It’s cleared by the head of Gomez, and there’s five more minutes of time added on to come.
88 min: Palmeiras continue to be patient, and Chelsea have to be, too. Their urgency has gone, and Lukaku seems to have been a big loss, as does the timing of the equaliser.
86 min: One more chance can win this. Kovacic, who has been the main ball carrier for Chelsea, is robbed on the edge of the Palmeiras box and the Brazilians are patient in their buildup. Atuesta, who has been good since coming on, forces a corner. Roman Abramovich looks very antsy in the stands.
84 min: Atuesta and Wesley, two subs, involved in a quick Palmeiras attack before Saul comes across to clear, another sub involved. Os cilindros sound very loud at the moment.
83 min: Neither side willing to risk much, those Chelsea changes look to have slowed down what seemed like their momentum. Not much coherence in their play.
81 min: A Rudiger foul allows Palmeiras the opportunity to get the ball hit long, Atuesta hits it and Palmeiras keep the territory after the ball is cleared. Any mistake from either team now will be fatal.
79 min: Those changes have Chelsea to three at the back with a front two of Werner and Havertz. A long ball launched that looks better suited to Lukaku.
77 min: Rony off, Wesley on for Palmeiras. The other scorer, Veiga goes off, and Atuesta on.
76 min: Boos as Lukaku goes off, and Hudson-Odoi, with Werner and Saul on. Lukaku looked up for it, and scored a fine goal. Odd change.
75 min: Lukaku has a smile on his face, looks to be relishing the battle far more than before. Off the bench, Timo Werner and Saul are being called.
73 min: Kante drives on, a ball to Lukaku is played up to Pulisic who shoots wide, and perhaps should have done better. The spaces are opening up at either end.
72 min: This game is on a knife-edge. It’s not a classic but there is real tension and jeopardy.
70 min: Havertz has been prominent, and gets to the byline, only for his ball to result in a Palmeiras attack. Scarpa keeps the ball in at the far side, and Kovacic and Danilo do battle in midfield before Veiga wallops a shot wide. Palmeiras working like dogs in there. Do they want this more?
69 min: Havertz almost stole in at the corner, Palmeiras having gone to sleep but the angle was too tight.
68 min: Thomas Tuchel is moaning to his assistants, looking not too impressed. The momentum is with the Brazilians. His team respond to his glowering with some attacking and Scarpa concedes a corner.
66 min: Big big noise from the Palmeiras fans, and Chelsea’s heads may be heading downwards. Palmeiras forces a corner, and Scarpa takes, the ball only hurriedly cleared.
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Goal! Chelsea 1-1 Palmeiras (Veiga, 64 pen)
Eduoard Mendy, hero of the Afcon final, up against Veiga, who keeps his cool and slots it to the right, Mendy going to the left. Oh Thiago, oh no.
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Penalty to Palmeiras!
62 min: Kante is in hoover mode, running back to baulk Rony and Dudu off the ball, and only conceding a throw. From that throw, there’s a chance for Palmeiras, and there’s call for a handball and the ref is going to have a look at the screen. Thiago Silva’s arm was high and in an unnatural position! It’s been given, the ref pointing to the spot.
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60 min: Palmeiras sub: off goes Ze Rafael, on comes Jailson.
59 min: Ian Copestake calls in: “Lukaku seems as cryptic on the pitch as he is on social media.
Peter Oh: “One of Palmeiras’ mascots is a pig. In the crowd photo in Jacob Steinberg’s article, the banner says “pigs eat rubbish” in Portuguese. That alone should motivate Chelsea to not be rubbish today.”
58 min: Hang on a tick...Dudu through? No, just crowded out and almost certainly offside, too.
57 min: Lukaku full of confidence and he makes a neat lay-off that Pulisic drills wide. This is where they can become champions of the whole world.....
56 min: Palmeiras’s plan must change now and space must open up. Chelsea have this game right where they want it.
Goal! Chelsea 1--0 Palmeiras (Lukaku, 55)
At last! And at last he moved! And at last he got the service! Hudson-Odoi escapes down the left, great cross from the byline and Lukaku heads the ball with real power, having climbed highest. That’s a classic Lukaku goal and what great work from Hudson-Odoi.
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54 min: Good defending by Rudiger, just as Rony looked to have got away. Then Hudson-Odoi is fouled in the corner, just as Palmeiras were pressing high up the pitch.
52 min: Lukaku does some shouting at his teammates. They could do with him doing some more moving.
51 min: A Kovacic foul buys some thinking time for Palmeiras, but they give it up cheaply and Chelsea go on the counter with Kante who just fails to release Havertz.
49 min: Another shot from a Chelsea centre-half, who are getting all the space, this time from Rudiger, but it goes over.
48 min: Free-kick chance for Chelsea, and the kick by Pulisic is meat and drink for Weverton, who is able to claim with some ease.
47 min: Hudson-Odoi has chance to get down the left but his ball into the middle is poor, and Chelsea do look at least to have begun the half with more attacking intention.
46 min: Extra time and penalties will ensue at the end of the 90, and they look a high possibility.
The teams are back in the tunnel, hopefully with a new detail to entertain, but it seems unlikely. Palmeiras will stick to their plan, and Chelsea will have to provide the verve.
Half-time: Chelsea 0-0 Palmeiras
It’s been cagey and Chelsea are up against a highly organised and tough opponent. The loss of Mason Mount has been significant but the arrival of Christian Pulisic has opened up a few gaps. The odd goal will win this one and Palmeiras look capable of scoring it, too
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45+3 min: Another Chelsea corner, one they need to make the best of. Rudiger again gets on the end but nods behind to close out the half. That’s it.
45+2 min: From the Chelsea corner, Rudiger heads over.
45+1 min: Rony does well in stopping an overlap from Hudson-Odoi and Thiago Silva, again granted space, has a dig from range and Weverton palms behind.
45 min: Rudiger overhits the ball and Weverton claims with ease. That was an impatient pass. Three minutes have been added on to this half.
44 min: Space for Palmeiras, with Ze Rafael almost setting up Dudu, only for a hurrying Christensen to dart back and block the pass.
42 min: Slow buildup from Chelsea, and it has to be as their opponent is sat deep and in numbers. Christensen chips up and Havertz tries to control but is outnumbered. Lukaku needed to be on the end of that one.
40 min: Rony sees glory and smashes the ball miles over. The shooting in this game so far has been pretty damned poor.
39 min: Lukaku the target for a Christensen ball and Weverton palms away before going down hurt though it doesn’t look too serious.
37 min: A foul on Pulisic in a dangerous area, and no Mount to take this. Pulisic will take the honour but goes over. That needed to be better. The keeper watches it whistle by.
36 min: Pulisic does look on it, and goes down the right, his ball aimed at Havertz but a deflection takes the ball away from the German and catches Lukaku unawares, too.
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35 min: Kovacic attempts to barrel through but the ball is whacked clear. Pulisic is also trying to cause problems.
33 min: Palmeiras have a corner, and it takes two Chelsea hacks the ball to get it clear. These feel like dangerous moments for Chelsea.
31 min: Chelsea sub: Mason Mount has been down on the floor and he leaves the field, to be replaced by Christian Pulisic. Big chance for the American, big loss for Chelsea.
30 min: Palmeiras try to construct an attack, with some slow passing, looking to eventually send the likes of Dudu away before a foul in midfield stops them.
29 min: Gianni Infantino looks on from his dais high up in the stands, flanked by high-ranking Emirati officials.
28 min: Dudu again goes close, as Chelsea’s defenders get tied up with Veiga’s pace finding them wanting. Dudu snatched at the chance but he looks a danger.
27 min: Space opens up for Havertz at last but he shoots wide. He ought to have done far better there.
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26 min: Havertz has a long-range effort himself, and his goes wide, too. Two sighters, one from each team.
24 min: First big shot of the game, all created for himself by Dudu, who turns and cracks the ball over the bar. A warning sign for Chelsea.
22 min: Veiga, perhaps not deliberately, cuts out a Kante pass just as it seems space has finally opened up. Lukaku’s movement for his support players is yet to be electric.
21 min: Thiago Silva powers forward again but Palmeiras’s defenders are holding firm for now. Perhaps the spaces will open up a bit more as this game goes along.
19 min: This is no easy assignment for Chelsea; Palmeiras are tough as teak and have all that noise on their side.
17 min: Rudiger fouls Rony and another set-piece will be pumped in, Scarpa taking and Chelsea getting it clear. Then the ball goes back in and Mendy claims eventually but there was some discomfort there.
16 min: Another chance for Mount to bend in a free-kick, but he shoots when Lukaku and co were ready for a cross. That was poor, just like the other one. Lukaku, never good at hiding his feelings, looks annoyed.
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14 min: Hudson-Odoi has been lively and cuts in again, as Azpilicueta, again, comes in on the back post but fails to get a clean touch. The veteran will be asked to get through a lot of mileage, it seems.
13 min: Mount is fouled in the centre of the Palmeiras half and there’s a chance to pump in a free-kick. Mount takes himself, but it’s cleared to set up a counter that comes to nothing when Dudu, the sole runner, is missed.
11 min: Cheers from the Palmeiras fans as Hudson-Odoi, cutting in from the left, is blocked. They are dropping deep and holding their line. Thiago Silva is being given space to pass the ball from the back.
10 min: Rony gets away, holds the ball up, stands up Rudiger who narrows the angle and the shot flies wide.
9 min: A Christensen foul in midfield buys Palmeiras some time, they are set up in a defensive shape but like to spring forward at speed. Kovacic is chased down in midfield. The Brazilians push and press in packs.
7 min: Scarpa down the other end has to do some defending as Chelsea push forward. The drums, the drums are loud from the Brazilian fans. Os cilindros if you like.
5 min: Rony heads Scarpa’s header behind for a Chelsea goal kick. It had not got as far as the near post.
4 min: Chelsea dominating possession, as was expected in the prelims. Palmeiras are a team that get the job done by defending hard first. They get a corner as Dudu’s shot is deflected.
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3 min: Early run by Havertz after being played in by Thiago Silva, Hudson-Odoi from the left whips the ball in, with Ewerthon in the Brazil goal flapping, though Azpilicueta was also out of kilter at the back post.
1 min: And away we go, with Chelsea taking the kick-off. They need to play much better than in the semi-final. Palmeiras look well up for this one, roared on by their very loud fans.
The fireworks have begun in Abu Dhabi, and the sound of loud music suggests the teams are ready to take the stage. Seven Nation Army is, of course, the tune playing.
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The word is that there will be 15,000 Palmeiras fans in the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium of a capacity of around 40,000. The stadium, of course, is named after the half-brother of the owner of Manchester City, Sheikh Mansour, the Crown Prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Here’s the main reason Palmeiras are in this final. They were in this event last year, too, but lost in the semis to Tigres UANL of Mexico before Bayern Munich won the tournament.
Thomas Tuchel, negative for Covid, ready and raring, speaks to Channel 4.
It’s difficult not to be with your team at a competition. It’s also the moment to trust your players and your staff but once you are here you have a good feeling. I am happy I could be here in Abu Dhabi. We want to win it all, we are here to win it and we will not hide from the fact we are not happy to be in the final, we want to win it, that’s what we are here for. This is a very realistic approach. The demand for ourselves today is that we have to respect our opponent, the game and anything can happen. And we want to do it.
The intro on Channel 4’s UK TV production, presented by James Richardson (that’s what happened to him...), was full hipster, and a bit more spacey and studied cool than a Sky intro. Though Jimbo’s just gone for an “Abu Dhabi doo” gag.
Jacob Steinberg spoke to Mason Mount in Abu Dhabi.
Minor injuries have stalled his momentum and he was out for a few weeks after having all of his wisdom teeth out in November.
“You don’t think your teeth are going to stop you from playing football,” Mount says. “It did actually really mess me up. It was Newcastle away and I woke up on the day in agony. I was in the car back to London and it was the worst journey I’ve ever been on. I wanted to just rip them out myself but it wouldn’t have been the best idea.”
This is a huge moment for Palmeiras; a chance, at long last, to silence taunts from rival Brazilian clubs about their barren record in this tournament. The Copa Libertadores champions understand what is at stake. They have long since had to accept that their triumph in the Copa Rio in 1951, the original intercontinental club tournament, is not enough to stop the chants of “Palmeiras não tem Mundial” – Palmeiras don’t have a World Cup – from fans of Corinthians, São Paulo and Santos. There is only one way to scratch the itch: by defying the odds and dashing Chelsea’s hopes of becoming world champions for the first time.
The big news for Chelsea is Mendy starting over Kepa in goals as one of four changes. Mason Mount replaces Hakim Ziyech and N’Golo Kanté is in for Jorginho. Callum Hudson-Odoi will play left wing-back with Marcos Alonso dropping to the bench.
Palmeiras pick the same team that beat Al Ahly in the semi-final.
The teams
Chelsea: Mendy, Christensen, Thiago Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Hudson-Odoi; Mount, Havertz, Lukaku. Subs: Kepa, Bettinelli, Alonso, Chalobah, Sarr, Jorginho, Saul, Barkley, Kenedy, Ziyech, Werner, Pulisic
Palmeiras: Weverton; Rocha, Gómez, Luan, Piquerez; Danilo, Zé Rafael; Dudu, Veiga, Scarpa; Rony. Subs: Benjamin, Jorge, Wesley, Mayke, Deyverson, Lopes, Atuesta, Cerquiera, Navarro, Jailson, Mateus, Marcelo
Preamble
It’s almost ten years - December 2012 in fact - when Chelsea got to the final of this tournament and lost to Corinthians in Japan. This time, in Abu Dhabi, they face another team from Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, coached by Abel Ferreira, not to be confused with the Hollywood film director Abel Ferrara, and one in the more tough traditions of Brazilian football. With Chelsea not exactly flowing with goals this could be what is politely referred to as an intriguing tactical battle. Thomas Tuchel, Covid test permitting, will be in the dugout as the club try to add this prestigious yet oddly superfluous trophy to their cabinet. It matters greatly to South American clubs but only the English clubs when they win it, not that it wouldn’t be a great disappointment to lose in the final for Chelsea.
Kick-off is 4.30pm UK time. Join me.
