Despite the time difference between Kuwait and Northern Ireland, Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel was awake to monitor proceedings at Windsor Park in Belfast on Wednesday as the Blues faced Villarreal in the 2021 edition of the Super Cup.
Chelsea’s class of 2021 did one better than Mikel and his teammates in 2012 and 2013 by beating Villarreal 6-5 on
penalties after the match ended 1-1.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner went the distance in the 2012 Super Cup loss to Atlético Madrid and the following year came off the bench for the last 33 minutes in the loss on penalties to Bayern Munich.
Morocco international Ziyech opened the scoring in the first half but Villarreal main man Gerard Moreno brought the La Liga side level with seventeen minutes left on the clock, taking the game to extra time and then penalties.
Blues manager Thomas Tuchel took a risk by bringing on Kepa Arrizabalaga to replace first-choice goalkeeper Eduoard Mendy in the 117th minute, and the gamble paid off as the Spaniard denied both Aissa Mandi and Raul Albiol to secure the Super Cup for the current Champions League holders.
Chelsea posted on Instagram, ‘Fixed it. #SuperCup #CFC #Chelsea’, with an accompanying picture of Antonio Rüdiger, César Azpilicueta, Mateo Kovacic and Kepa celebrating the win.
Mikel, who made 372 appearances for Chelsea across eleven years, responded by liking the post.
