Schmeichel savoring FA Cup win: 'I've dreamt about this since I was a child'

Agence France-Presse ·
Leicester City's chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha (R) and Leicester City's Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (L) hold the winner's trophy as the Leicester players celebrate victory after the English FA Cup final football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium in north west London on May 15, 2021. - Leicester won the FA Cup for the first time in the club's 137-year history as Youri Tielemans's sensational strike beat Chelsea 1-0 in front of 22,000 fans at Wembley. - NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE
NICK POTTS / AFP / Getty

London, May 15, 2021 (AFP) - Kasper Schmeichel described leading Leicester to the club's first ever FA Cup as a dream come true after he played a huge role in beating Chelsea 1-0 on Saturday.

Youri Tielemans's stunning strike just after the hour mark separated the sides in front of the largest sports attendance in England since the coronavirus pandemic hit, with 22,000 fans at Wembley.

But Schmeichel had to rescue his side late on with brilliant saves from Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount.

"I've dreamt about this since I was child," said Schmeichel, whose dad Peter Schmeichel won three FA Cups with Manchester United.

"We have talked about wanting to win trophies. The performance today, the grit and determination, I'm so proud of everybody, everybody contributed to get to the final. Everyone has played and been sensational."

Even when Schmeichel was eventually beaten, Chilwell's late equaliser against his former club was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

"Thank you VAR! What an amazing technology," said Tielemans.

"What a moment, I'm really happy. I can't think of a better goal than this. I've scored a few but it was a really nice goal to score in the final of the FA Cup."

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