While supremo Abramovich had been widely expected to attend the showpiece after it was switched to Porto, the Russian businessman had managed to keep a reasonably low profile throughout the match, with brief footage circulating on social media of him celebrating Kai Havertz’s first-half winner in the stands.
The funder of Chelsea’s hugely expensive squad was understandably open to joining his employees on the pitch in Porto after they lifted the trophy – and Tuchel, remarkably, confided that the momentous occasion was also his first opportunity to come face-to-face with the man who was instrumental in his surprise appointment in January.
“I spoke to Roman on the pitch,” said the German, basking in the joy of avenging his defeat in the final with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, last season.
“It was maybe the best moment to do it, but now it can only get worse.”