Havertz explains Chelsea penalty decision in Club World Cup final win

Kai Havertz said the other Chelsea players trusted him to take the decisive extra-time penalty kick which eventually secured the club’s first-ever Club World Cup triumph on Saturday.

The man who scored the winning goal in the Champions League final last year has now done it again in the Club World Cup.

The Blues had to work harder than initially expected as Palmeiras midfielder Raphael Veiga’s penalty goal cancelled out Romelu Lukaku’s first-half opener.

Chelsea had a hard time dealing with the Brazilian side’s resilient defending and the game went into extra time.

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They eventually had the opportunity to secure the win after a late Palmeiras handball.

Jorginho, who usually takes the penalties, was not on the pitch, but fortunately, Havertz stepped up and did not waste the opportunity.

Despite admitting feeling nervous, Havertz said that the whole team encouraged him to take responsibility.

“I think I was the third penalty taker,” the Germany international told Channel 4 about the team’s decision to let him take the spot-kick.

“Jorgi and Rom [Lukaku] were both out. I was the only one on the pitch.

“The other players gave me trust. Hakim, everybody said, ‘You do it. You do it.’”

The 22-year-old was also unsurprisingly ecstatic about becoming a world champion at the club level.

“It’s amazing,” he explained.

“From Champions of Europe to Champions of the World. It sounds better! We did so much to be here, to win this game. An incredible feeling.”

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