Chelsea are one of the few clubs privileged to have won the UEFA Champions League twice under two very different managers, Roberto Di Matteo and Thomas Tuchel. While both delivered European glory, the question remains: who was more impactful?
Softfootball gathered, Roberto Di Matteo gave Chelsea their most emotional and historic triumph. In 2012, he led the club to their first-ever Champions League title, alongside an FA Cup victory.
The Champions League win came against Bayern Munich, in Munich, under immense pressure. It followed the heartbreak of the 2007/08 final against Manchester United, where John Terry’s missed penalty denied Chelsea glory.
That 2012 run felt special. Chelsea were not favourites. Bayern were free-scoring and dominant, while Chelsea relied on resilience, defensive discipline and belief. The team could sit deep, absorb pressure, and still find ways to score even when reduced to 10 men. Many described the journey as “grace,” a run driven by determination rather than dominance.
Di Matteo’s tactical bravery was evident, particularly in how he used players like Ashley Cole on one side to limit Arjen Robben. Despite Robben being in peak form and recording more shots on target than the entire Chelsea team in the final, Chelsea survived, endured, and ultimately prevailed. That night became one of the most iconic moments in football history.
Thomas Tuchel’s impact, however, was different and arguably more transformative. He arrived when Chelsea were struggling and instantly rebuilt the team’s identity. Tuchel introduced structure, balance and confidence, turning Chelsea into a side that every opponent feared.
Under Tuchel, Chelsea won the Champions League against Manchester City, followed by the UEFA Super Cup against Villarreal and the Club World Cup. His Chelsea beat Manchester City three times in a single season, controlled games, kept clean sheets, and looked tactically superior to elite opponents.
Tuchel didn’t just win trophies he elevated Chelsea into a modern, dominant force. There was a visible connection between players, clarity in approach, and renewed belief throughout the squad.
For many fans, Di Matteo’s 2012 Champions League remains the most emotionally impactful moment in Chelsea’s history the night dreams finally came true. Tuchel’s era, however, may be remembered as the period Chelsea became truly feared across Europe.
Both managers delivered immortality in different ways. One gave Chelsea its soul-defining triumph. The other rebuilt its identity and global dominance.
