Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said their Champions League final opponents Manchester City are the “benchmark” in Europe, but his team will head to the title clash in Istanbul equipped with the confidence that they can beat Pep Guardiola’s side. The final is slated for May 29.

Goals by Timo Werner and Mason Mount sent Chelsea into the title clash with City as they outclassed 13-time champions Real Madrid 2-0 in the semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday for a 3-1 aggregate triumph.

Chelsea knocked City out of the FA Cup semi-final with a 1-0 win last month but Tuchel said that performance does not necessarily give his team the upper hand heading into the Champions League final.

“But it gives us a good feeling, the confidence that we played that semi-final on the edge, we used it... for me Bayern Munich with Manchester City are the benchmarks and we wanted to close the gap to City,” Tuchel told reporters.

“This one match in the semi-final we did that with a very impressive performance and we need that again. It gave us belief and confidence for every game after that, because it’s the highest level you can face.”

On an ascent

Former Paris Sanit-Germain boss Tuchel took over from the sacked Frank Lampard in January and has guided Chelsea from ninth to fourth place in the league.

“We had huge challenges in the Premier League and we came out of it very strong and showed our mentality and quality in all of these matches,” Tuchel said.

“So yes, we’ll arrive with self-confidence... in Istanbul. With no injuries, just the positive energy to win.”

Tuchel said all the sacrifices he had made since January, including being away from his family, were worth it.

“I was part of an amazing club from the first day, and I felt huge support from day one. I’m very grateful to be on the sideline with this team,” he said.

“This was an energetic performance... The job isn’t done yet. We’re in two finals and the sacrifice that I, personally have made, has been worth it since day one.”

Candid Zidane

Real coach Zinedine Zidane had no regrets about picking Sergio Ramos and Eden Hazard against Chelsea despite the pair only recently returning from injury.

Chelsea, who had been the better side in last week’s 1-1 draw in Madrid, outplayed Real again.

Captain Ramos, a veteran of big occasions like the decider at Stamford Bridge, had not played for his club since March 16 owing to two injuries in quick succession plus a spell away from training due to testing positive for Covid-19.

But he was thrust straight back into the line-up alongside former Chelsea player Hazard, who was making only his second start in three months, while French left back Ferland Mendy returned after three weeks out.

“We were playing a semi-final and every player was ready, they wouldn’t have played if they were not,” Zidane told reporters.

“Chelsea put in a great performance and you have to congratulate them.”

Off the pace

The coach also admitted record signing Hazard had been off the pace during the game but said the only way for the Belgian finally to thrive after two seasons with Real riddled with injuries was to keep playing.

“Eden has to get his confidence back and he needs to keep playing,” he added.

Zidane fielded the same 3-5-2 formation as in the first leg but injuries to Dani Carvajal and Raphael Varane led him to field Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr in the unfamiliar position of right back.

The coach defended his tactical decisions but admitted his side had been well beaten.

“Vini’s best position is on the left wing but he can also play on the right and today (Wedesday) I had to organise the team in this way),” he said.

Major obstacle

Thousands of Manchester City and Chelsea fans hoping to attend the final face a major obstacle — Britain’s Foreign Office is currently warning against all but essential travel to Turkey based on Covid-19 risks.

Turkey has in recent weeks ranked fourth globally in terms of daily Covid-19 cases, prompting a nationwide lockdown this month until May 17. The move has started to curb the outbreak, with daily cases falling to below 27,000 on Wednesday from a peak above 63,000 in mid-April.

British fans planning to attend the match do not face any difficulties in terms of Turkish regulations. People from the UK will no longer be requested to show a negative Covid-19 test result on their arrival in Turkey from May 15.

Last week, European soccer’s governing body Uefa insisted that the final would take place in Istanbul as planned, despite the current lockdown, with a limited number of spectators.

Turkish Football Federation officials were not immediately available for comment.

The Ataturk Olympic Stadium was due to host last year’s Champions League final but the pandemic forced a change of plans with the latter rounds and final taking place in Lisbon.

The stadium hosted the 2005 Champions League final, which Liverpool won on penalties after drawing 3-3 with AC Milan.