The first part of a new exclusive documentary delving into last season’s Champions League triumph, which is released on Tuesday, features club legend Petr Cech offering his assessment of how the 2021 vintage of Chelsea’s European champions compares with our original kings of Europe from 2012.
Porto Uncovered combines interviews with many of the key figures to the Blues lifting the Champions League trophy, for only the second time in our history, with behind-the-scenes footage from throughout the knockout stages and final itself, to tell the story of last season’s victory like never before.
Cech is in a unique position, having starred in the first of our Champions League triumphs as the Blues goalkeeper in Munich in 2012, in addition to being involved in our second as the club’s current technical and performance advisor.
The first of the two episodes focuses on the road to Porto, part of which includes Cech using his vast experience and insight to consider how the paths taken to glory in 2012 and 2021 compare, admitting the performances of Thomas Tuchel’s Blues may even have surpassed the legendary side he was part of, although he sees plenty of similarities too.
‘In 2012, there were games when we were really lucky,’ explains Cech. ‘2021 is beautiful in the way that the team really deserved in every single game to win.
‘The similarity I would say was the togetherness of the group and the preparation and the atmosphere in the team, I think that was the same.’
In the full documentary, Tuchel and his players also discuss the incredible team spirit which forged them into a side capable of winning the biggest prize in European club football – both how it was created by their shared experiences and why it made them feel invincible during the toughest moments of last season’s Champions League, including the final itself.
The first episode of Porto Uncovered will be available on the official Chelsea website and The 5th Stand app from Tuesday. Using exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes content, it brings you the real story of our 2021 Champions League triumph, told through the eyes of the players, staff and supporters who were at the heart of that famous victory.
Episode One follows our gruelling route to the final and the challenges we overcame to reach Porto. Episode Two, which will be available from Thursday, picks up the tale at the Estadio do Dragao by looking at the preparations for the final, the match itself and the incredible celebrations on the pitch, in the dressing room and in the stands.