Villarreal CF forward Gerard Moreno has said that Chelsea is “the best team in the world” following Villarreal’s loss to Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup played in Belfast Ireland on Wednesday night.
Chelsea won the tie 6-5 on penalties after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Having not been decided after 120 minutes of play, the match had to be decided on a penalty shoot-out at Belfast’s Windsor Park.
Moreno was involved in the scoreboard as he helped his team equalized a 1-0 deficit in the 73rd minute to force the tie into extra time. Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech had put Chelsea in front in the 27th minute before sustaining an injury and getting substituted in the 39th minute.
Chelsea’s victory extended the run of eight of the past nine Champions League winners lifting the Super Cup. This is also Chelsea’s second Super Cup triumph with the only other Super Cup victory in 1998.
The Spanish forward was full of praise for the Blues who had more possession despite starting the second half on a poor form. Chelsea generated 20-12 shots and 7-5 shots on target compared to Villarreal.
PHOTO: Courtesy
“We are now competing with the best, it was definite that Chelsea were the favorites to win the trophy,” said Gerard Moreno in the post-match interview.
He went on to say the London side is the best club in the world, “I don’t know what the difference in budget is, but for me, they’re the best team in the world.”
Gerard Moreno spoke in the side pitch interview after the match after bagging the man of the match award.
On his side, Villarreal head coach Unai Emery who formerly coached Chelsea’s London rivals Arsenal and was the head coach when Chelsea thrashed Arsenal 4-1 in the 2019 UEFA Europa League finals said he is proud of his side despite the loss.
“It’s a pride to represent this club, Villarreal and La Liga on a day like today,” Emery said post-game. Said Emery after the match.
Villarreal CF forward Gerard Moreno with the Man of the Match award after the Super Cup match against Chelsea. The blues won 6-5 on penalties.
PHOTO: Courtesy
He went on to say, “You cannot blame the players for anything because they’ve made a fantastic effort.”
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel becomes the third consecutive German coach to win the Super Cup after Hansi Flick to win with Bayern Munchen in 2020 and Jürgen Klopp to lift the trophy in 2019, then against Chelsea. Tuchel has also extended his unbeaten run against Spanish opponents to a record nine matches.
Moreno and Villarreal will now prepare to kick start the new La Liga season on Monday night when they face Granada at their home stadium, Estadio de la Ceramica, whilst Chelsea start their Premier League season against London neighbors Crystal Palace, the blues will also be at home at Stamford Bridge in what is expected to be a fully packed Stamford Bridge.
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