Marcos Alonso and the Genius of Thomas Tuchel

There is no such thing as a good or a bad player, only one in the right (or wrong) system.

Chelsea Proves a Point While Collecting One at Liverpool

A red card put Chelsea to the test, but a draw won with control, composure and calm felt like much more.

N’Golo Kanté, Chelsea and Beating the System

Every coach has a plan. But players still decide games, and only Chelsea has Kanté. In the Champions League final, that made all the difference.

Pep Guardiola and the Ones That Got Away

One of soccer’s most successful coaches hasn’t been to the Champions League final in a decade. But as Manchester City meets Chelsea, he has a chance to reclaim the trophy he values most.

Revisiting Ilkay Gundogan

The Manchester City midfielder is a rare player in the Champions League final: one with experience in the game. He wants to know what it feels like to win.

The Game of Tomorrow, Today

Seismic shocks to European soccer’s landscape have turned Saturday’s Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea into a sign of things to come.