Reflecting on the 2021 Champions League final, Kai Havertz can’t help but smile. The unexpected triumph of Chelsea over Manchester City in Porto still feels fresh for the German forward.
“It’s an unforgettable experience,” Havertz commented. “As a child, I could never have imagined scoring a goal in the final and winning that match. I will always take pride in that moment. I strive to hold onto that feeling, hoping to replicate it in the future.”
Havertz is now focused on Arsenal’s upcoming clash against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday, where many believe they face an uphill battle. This mirrors the situation Chelsea encountered when they, under coach Thomas Tuchel, faced a dominant City side led by Pep Guardiola, who had finished the Premier League 12 points clear. Chelsea had ended the season in fourth, trailing by another seven points.
Having recently secured their first Premier League title since 2004, Arsenal arrives with momentum, and Havertz, who celebrated the win with a selfie alongside Win, the training ground’s brown labrador, looks set to start. He has been favored over the £64 million summer acquisition Viktor Gyökeres in recent matches against City and Burnley, and he eagerly anticipates participating in this prestigious European final for a second time.
Some were taken aback when Arsenal invested £65 million to acquire Havertz from Chelsea, two years after his memorable Champions League performance. Despite facing a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the final three months of last season, he emerged as the team’s top scorer and aims to repay manager Mikel Arteta’s trust on this grand platform.
Havertz faced a significant challenge earlier this season with a knee injury sustained on the opening day against Manchester United, which kept him out for nearly five months. He returned to the field in January, overcoming initial expectations of a brief recovery, undergoing two surgeries, and spending weeks in a knee brace.
Havertz’s critical goals in the Champions League knockout stages, including against Bayer Leverkusen and Sporting, along with his first Premier League goal at the Emirates in over a year against Burnley, were pivotal as the team celebrated their title win. He also scored during a challenging match at the Etihad Stadium in April.
With confidence soaring ahead of their encounter with PSG, Havertz stated, “We’ve been competing at the highest level for several years, and finally winning the Premier League gives us a significant boost. Regardless of being labeled as underdogs, we’ll step onto the pitch determined to win.”
