Chelsea will be €5 million (around $ 5.86 million) richer for winning this year’s UEFA Super Cup ahead of Villarreal.
The top European football governing body will also pay Villarreal €3 million ($3.51 million) for losing the UEFA Super Cup final to Chelsea, Bolavip reports.
Chelsea defeated Villarreal 6-5 on penalties in the UEFA Super Cup final Wednesday night in Belfast.
Kepa Arrizabalaga then came off the bench to save two kicks during the shootout to give Thomas Tuche’s side the UEFA Super Cup.
With the scores level at 120 minutes following goals from Hakim Ziyech and Gerard Moreno in normal time, Kepa replaced Edouard Mendy in the final moments of extra-time specifically for the shootout – and it proved the right call from Thomas Tuchel as the Spaniard proved decisive.
Ziyech finished a slick team move 27 minutes into the contest on Wednesday night, but then departed with a suspected dislocated shoulder to leave Thomas Tuchel with a selection problem just days before the new Premier League season.
While Chelsea are set to welcome £97.5 million Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge, the likely absence of Ziyech will be a blow with a number of key players yet to get up to full fitness before the Blues face Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Gerard Moreno equalised 73 minutes in as Villarreal rallied after the break to send the game to extra-time, but Chelsea won the shootout to lift the trophy.
It was a good night’s work for Chelsea in Belfast as Tuchel added another trophy to the Champions League triumph last season, with Unai Emery’s Europa League holders proving feisty opposition.
Chelsea controlled the first half, with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Marcos Alonso stretching the play on either flank to pin back Villarreal.
Timo Werner stung the hands of Sergio Asenjo with a volley, while the Villarreal goalkeeper kept Alonso at bay off a low first-time finish.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will play in the Club World Cup in December as UEFA Champions League winners.
The Blues will kick start their 2021/22 Premier League campaign this weekend against Crystal Palace.
