Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said the "challenge" for his newly-crowned Champions League winners was to maintain the hunger that led to victory in Porto. Kai Havertz's goal just before half-time set up a 1-0 victory over Manchester City and secured Chelsea a second European Cup, vindicating owner Roman Abramovich's decision to sack club great Frank Lampard in January and install Tuchel. Under the German the Blues have an Indian sign over the Premier League champions; Saturday's Champions League win was the third time Tuchel had masterminded victory over Pep Guardiola's side in 2021. Yet while Chelsea's players and supporters celebrated, Tuchel was already plotting an assault on more silverware to challenge City's domestic dominance. "The level is set and once the celebrations are over and we've all digested this experience, it's the moment to grow, to use it to become better," Tuchel said. "It's absolutely crucial that we do that. It's a big challenge to stay hungry and go for the next one. "I feel hungry, part of a really ambitious club and a strong group that supports my beliefs in football perfectly." Tuchel got his team selection spot on with Reece James and Ben Chilwell impressing at wing backs while N'Golo Kante was a colossus in midfield. The scoreline could have been more emphatic if Timo Werner, in particular, had been more clinical, while Pep Guardiola was left to rue his own team selection that lacked a destructive presence in the form of Rodri or Fernandinho. "It was a huge achievement to arrive in the final and even bigger to fight our way to the Cup," Tuchel said. "We knew we needed a top level performance and a strong bond to have a chance to win the match and this is what we did. "I'm almost speechless. Very happy to share this with the guys. The effort was huge to overcome some difficult moments with a fantastic attitude," he added. Saturday's win capped an amazing turnaround for both club and manager. Tuchel was sacked by Paris Saint-Germain on Christmas Eve as they struggled to exert their usual dominance in France while Chelsea's season seemed in freefall. They were ninth in the Premier League when Tuchel took charge in January, lacking identity and confidence despite huge investment in new recruits like Havertz and Werner. The transformation has been incredible. Tuchel oversaw an unbeaten 14-match run before a 5-2 defeat to West Bromwich Albion on April 3, with his side keeping 12 clean sheets in all competitions. He brought many players shunned by Lampard back into the fold, most notably defender Antonio Rudiger and left wing-back Marcos Alonso, while he also harnessed the attacking potential of young talents such as Mason Mount and Havertz. Delivering the Champions League in his first season will ensure his name in Chelsea folklore. "I spoke to the owner on the pitch, it was the best moment for our first meeting – or maybe the worst because it can only get worse now," joked Tuchel.
