Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel described securing the Fifa Club World Cup as an "incomparable feeling", while he also dedicated the win in Abu Dhabi to club owner Roman Abramovich.
Contesting the final for a second time, the European champions defeated Brazil’s Palmeiras 2-1 after extra-time at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, with Kai Havertz scoring from the penalty spot to seal the title.
With the triumph, Chelsea became the third English Premier League club to be crowned world champions after Manchester United and Liverpool.
"Maybe this cup or this tournament is not so highly regarded in Europe, but once you're here and once you feel it, it totally catches you," said Tuchel, who arrived in Abu Dhabi late on Friday having last week tested positive for Covid-19.
"You're on the bus and you drive in the evening and you see the lights of the stadium, and you don't know the other team because they don't come from you country, not from your league. It's a fantastic feeling.
"And it's incomparable to any other feeling and so that's why it's so beautiful."
Chelsea, who lost the 2012 showpiece to Brazil’s Corinthians, took the lead on Saturday night through Romelu Lukaku’s 54th-minute header. However, Raphael Veiga equalised for the South American champions 10 minutes later with a penalty following Thiago Silva's handball, before Havertz took advantage of Luan’s handball to clinch the victory in the 117th minute. Luan was then sent off in injury time.
"We tried to calm the team down and tell them what a fantastic opportunity it is to play football like this," Tuchel said. "Every footballer in the world is jealous of having the chance to play this final.
"So many young boys one day dream to be in this final and watch this game, and we reminded ourselves that all of us have been spoiled somehow and it's also a moment to enjoy."
The Club World Cup represented the only trophy Abramovich had not won since buying the London side in 2003.
Of the pair’s post-match chat, Tuchel said: "I said congratulations, he said congratulations, and I said, ‘It's for you. It's your club and it's your input and your passion that made this possible and we're happy to be part of it.’"
Tuchel said afterwards that he almost did not make the last-gasp trip to the capital as he raced against time to be able to travel.
"We were running out of flights - with the time difference we knew the deadline was coming," the German said. "Several times I was on my way to the airport and on the way back from there while I was driving because the test was not negative. And finally we made it; I arrived yesterday for dinner, at 8.15 in the evening.
"It was not nice to watch the semi-finals at the office on the screen. As a coach you want to be on the sideline. And I'm happy now that all the effort was worth it and we managed to get the cup."
Club World Cup final player ratings
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CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS: Edouard Mendy – 6. Thomas Tuchel returned to the sideline after Covid, and immediately Mendy was restored between the posts. No chance with the penalty, but added to Chelsea’s nerves after it went in with errant distribution. EPA -
Cesar Azpilicueta – 6. So defensive is the Palmeiras method, Chelsea’s right wing back found himself in the forward line an unusual amount of times. Played the volley onto Luan’s arm which was decisive. EPA -
Andreas Christensen – 7. Had his work cut out dealing with Dudu, but Palmeiras’ star forward was mostly kept at arm’s length. Went off before the start of extra time. Reuters -
Thiago Silva – 7. Palmeiras are happy without the ball, and defending deep, which meant Silva spent much of the time picking out quarter-back style passes, plus some long shots. Mindless handball for the penalty. AFP -
Antonio Rudiger – 9.5. Might have done better at a couple of attacking corners, but his defensive work was typically impeccable. Head and shoulders above the rest, the deserving player of the match. Reuters -
Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6. Bright early on, but faded and was cancelled out by Rony and Rocha. Wasteful too often, but picked out Lukaku expertly for the opening goal of the night. AFP -
N'Golo Kante – 7. Tried to get his side moving, but Lukaku and Havertz were not often the most willing runners ahead of him. Had his bottomless fuel supplies tested by the vigour of the Palmeiras midfield. AP -
Mateo Kovacic – 7. Brilliant last time out, but found it tougher this time when pressed by a more energetic midfield. Played the pass which freed Hudson-Odoi to cross for Lukaku’s goal. AFP -
Mason Mount – 5. Met the ire of Silva and Lukaku when he opted to shoot a first-half free kick rather than cross. Looked dejected when he limped off after half an hour. AP -
Kai Havertz – 8. Compared to the Al Hilal game, where he sparkled, he was relatively lacklustre, but he did the crucial part when the time came. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Romelu Lukaku – 6. Again he laboured. Again he scored. The last bit is what Chelsea paid all that money for, but they might expect a little more in the way of energy, too. AP -
SUBS: Christian Pulisic – 7. On for Mount with quarter of an hour left in the first half, and added so much more dynamism than the England man managed. Missed a good chance late in normal time when he curved a shot wide. AFP -
Timo Werner – 7. Lukaku’s replacement got lucky once, when he broke through despite being clearly offside. But he was perky in attack in extra time. AP -
Saul Niguez – 6. On for Hudson-Odoi he was happy to battle. He picked himself straight up after appearing to head-butt Piquerez’s boot. PA -
Hakim Ziyech – 5. Inauspicious start after coming on for Kovacic after 90 minutes were up. First tripped doing a trick, then tripped up an opponent trying to retrieve possession. Gave a rash of fouls thereafter, too. AFP -
Malang Sarr – 6. Confident enough to lash a shot in from distance not long after being introduced, but it ended up in the crowd behind the goal. Reuters -
PALMEIRAS PLAYER RATINGS: Weverton – 6. Much like his two rivals for a place in Brazil’s goal, Ederson and Alisson Becker, Palmeiras’ No 1 has an extraordinary range of passing. He was sometimes too keen to show it off when his tiring outfielders needed a rest. AP -
Marcos Rocha – 8. One delicious bit of skill to dispossess Hudson-Odoi and start an attack was the one piece of showiness he permitted himself. Otherwise, he had his nose to the grindstone. Vital header prevented a late goal. AP -
Gustavo Gomez – 9. It was his sizeable presence which spooked Silva into conceding the penalty. Colossal display exemplified why the Paraguayan is regarded by many as the best centre back in Brazil. AP -
Luan – 5. Lukaku only got the better of him once, when he outjumped him for the goal. Extremely unlucky to give away a penalty for handball scarcely a yard away from the shooter. Red card was the final indignity. PA -
Gustavo Scarpa – 7. Brought a massive roar from the Palmeiras fans with one meaty – if a little inconsequential – tackle on Lukaku. His commitment was obvious throughout. Reuters -
Raphael Veiga – 7. Calmness personified from the spot for the equaliser. Cheered to the echoed when he was substituted late on. AP -
Rony – 8. It said much about manager Abel Ferreira’s commitment to defence that Rony, nominally the forward, spent much of the game covering the right-back position. He did it selflessly and with passion. EPA -
SUBS: Jailson – 7. Brought on straight after the concession of Lukaku’s goal – and his side promptly hit back. Later made an important contribution at a defensive corner. Reuters -
Wesley – 6. Added some oomph for a tiring side, but was also booked for a reckless foul on Saul. EPA -
Eduard Atuesta – 6. Introduced late on but struggled to get to the pace of the game in the time that was afforded to him. EPA -
Rafael Navarro – 7. Succeeded in stretching the play when his wilting midfield needed an out ball. AP -
Deyverson – NA. No chance to make an impression after coming on deep into extra time. EPA
