Champions League Final: Chelsea fans make their way to Porto ahead of tonight's clash

Porto
Author: Helen HoddinottPublished 29th May 2021

Thousands of Chelsea fans are on their way to Porto to watch their side face Manchester City in the Champions League final tonight.

It's the Blues' first final since lifting the trophy in 2012.

"When I saw the tickets that we had a chance to get them, I knew we had to go all-in for them," says Jack from Wandsworth, who's travelling to Porto with his dad.

"It's the biggest game in club football, and to see my team potentially win that, I just don't think football would get any better than that for me."

Chelsea have reportedly returned more than 800 tickets out of their allocation of 5,800, with the tickets not sold as part of a charter package.

Fans have criticised the decision to hold the match in Portugal, after a move to Wembley collapsed because the British Government would not grant quarantine-free access to sponsors, broadcasters and VIPs amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"We could have had 22,000 in Wembley as we had for the FA Cup Final," continues Jack. "Instead we've got all these fans from Manchester and Chelsea flying out to Porto, most paying at least 500-800 pounds a head, including testing, flights and the ticket itself."

To get into the stadium this evening, fans have to show a negative PCR coronavirus test, which will be followed up with another screening on their return.

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