9 August 2056, Parken
Chelsea began the new season as they ended the last, with silverware. On a warm summer evening in Copenhagen, Calin Dimario’s side lifted the UEFA Super Cup after a composed 3–1 victory over Universitatea Craiova, adding yet another chapter to an era already rich with trophies.
The contest was not without its early unease. Craiova captain Daniel Petre stunned the holders by firing the Romanian side ahead inside nine minutes, his skidding drive momentarily puncturing Chelsea’s rhythm. The response, however, was swift and telling. Central defender Tudor Mecea turned a low cross into his own net three minutes later, restoring parity and settling Chelsea’s nerves.
Control followed possession. Chelsea pressed higher, passed with assurance and gradually forced Craiova deeper. That pressure told just before the hour, when Netanel Sahar rose to guide a close-range header beyond the goalkeeper, a finish befitting the striker’s growing authority in big matches.
Any lingering resistance was extinguished soon after. An error from Petre allowed Nahuel Pelayo time and space inside the area, and the inverted winger made no mistake with a well-timed finish to seal the contest.
Sahar was deservedly named Player of the Match, his goal and assist underlining his influence, while the evening also carried quieter significance. Dariusz Michalik made his long-awaited Chelsea debut from the bench, a small but symbolic moment amid the club’s continued evolution.
The victory secured a seasonal double, following the English Community Shield, and extended Chelsea’s remarkable run of honours under Dimario. The trophies may already be familiar, but the composure with which they are collected continues to mark this side out as one of the defining teams of its era.