Best of the weekend's soccer action: King Kante shines as Chelsea crowned champions of Europe

Chelsea were crowned as the best club team in Europe on the back of a typical one-man midfield performance by the ever-humble Ngolo Kante, while Kaizer Chiefs are in the hunt for new head coach.

Here Sport24 highlights some of the weekend's best soccer action:

Chelsea crowned champions of Europe

An overthinking Pep Guardiola getting his tactics wrong while Thomas Tuchel got his spot-on saw Chelsea upset the favoured Manchester City to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy on Saturday. It's difficult to criticise a genius tactician such as Guardiola, who has redefined the English game. Still, after such a significant defeat, a lot has been left to be desired of his game plan. The Spanish tactician contrived to make probably the best team in Europe worse, with his overcomplicated tactics by not employing a defensive midfielder only for the second time this season. Guardiola continued the trend of overthinking his tactics in the Champions League with Tuchel's Chelsea deserved winners in a typically tense final.

Humble Ngolo Kante outstanding in final win

Chelsea's incredible final win and resurgence in the second half of this season since Tuchel had taken over was built on the inspirational form of midfielder Ngolo Kante. The French midfielder was named the final's Man of the Match as he again inspired Chelsea to conquer Europe with an exceptional one-man midfield performance. Kante has now been named as the Player of the Match in the competition's finals, both semi-final legs and the Round of 16 match. It couldn't have also happened to a nicer person as the soft-spoken Kante is universally regarded as one of the most likeable and humble players in the game.

Trailblazing Pitso lifts yet another trophy with Al Ahly

Pitso Mosimane put a bittersweet return to South Africa behind him by lifting the CAF Super Cup trophy as Al Ahly beat Renaissance Berkane of Morocco by 2-0 to clinch their 21st CAF title. Mosimane remains steadfastly on track to lift the profile of SA coaches on the continent. He has now won four CAF competitions, one less than the most successful African, Tunisian Faouzi Benzarti. The former Mamelodi Sundowns head coach also has a shot at defending the CAF Champions League as the Egyptian Red Devils occupy a last four spot of this year's competition.

Gavin Hunt leaves Kaizer Chiefs

In what was probably never a match made in heaven came to an end as Gavin Hunt was sacked for the first time in his coaching career by Kaizer Chiefs. The appointment process and decision-making have to be questioned by the Chiefs hierarchy in hiring the former Wits manager in the first place. While from Hunt's side, his decision - to a lesser degree - also has to be questioned after the dissolving of Bidvest Wits. In terms of Chiefs' decision, everyone in SA football knows Hunt's methods, playing philosophy and man-management style. It perhaps clashed in principle to the style of football demanded by The Glamour Boys' fan-base. For this both parties need to receive a part of the blame as Chiefs moved further away from title contention this season. Added to that a global pandemic alongside a transfer ban, and it was a recipe for disaster... that telling by the league standings, delivered disastrous results.

Entertaining Euros to look forward to

On a more positive note, if you've not had enough football in what has been a drama-filled 2020/2021 campaign, there's even more action in-store with the upcoming Euros 2021 tournament. With the re-inclusion of Karim Benzema, France looks the team to beat when the action gets underway on 11 June as Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, with their emerging supporting cast of stars, will be bent on defending their European crown. England, especially as the competition's semi-finals and finals will be hosted at Wembley, will also be favoured. At the same time, Germany, Belgium and Spain are the other usual suspects who will all be aiming to be crowned the next European champions.