Chelsea booked their place in the FA Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Leeds United at Wembley, thanks to a first-half goal from Enzo Fernandez. The win ends a run of 498 minutes without a goal against Premier League opposition and secures a showdown with Manchester City on 16 May.
Scrappy win, familiar pattern
The match was far from vintage, but Chelsea showed the grit and determination that had been absent during the short and ill-fated tenure of former head coach Liam Rosenior. Rosenior was dismissed after just 106 days in charge, following a five-game league losing streak without scoring — a run not seen at the club since 1912. His departure appears to have triggered an immediate response from the squad.
Interim boss Calum McFarlane oversaw the semi-final win, with players visibly energised. McFarlane defended the squad’s character after the match, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: "I wouldn't question their character. It's been questioned because of the results. That group has massive character."
Fernandez leads the revival
From exile to match-winner
Enzo Fernandez was central to Chelsea’s success, scoring the decisive goal in the 23rd minute with a powerful header past Lucas Perri. It was his 13th goal of the season, second only among Premier League midfielders to Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest. The Argentine had recently served a two-match suspension imposed by the club after suggesting he might leave in an interview following Chelsea’s Champions League exit to Paris St-Germain.
Despite the controversy, Fernandez delivered when it mattered. Former England goalkeeper Rob Green noted the stark contrast in performances since Rosenior’s exit: "They're a product of the system they are in. It's ugly but they have all the power and it was epitomised by Fernandez. He ran the game. That is not healthy for a football club but for Chelsea it gets them to finals."
History repeats under new ownership
Under previous owner Roman Abramovich, Chelsea became known for their 'hire and fire' managerial policy, winning 18 major trophies across 15 different bosses. The current ownership, BlueCo, has followed a similar path, cycling through eight managers but now reaching three finals since taking over in 2022 — having already won the Conference League and Club World Cup.
The presence of Thomas Tuchel at Wembley, now England manager, served as a reminder of the club’s turbulent recent past — he was the first manager sacked under the new regime on their 100th day in charge. Now, with a final against Manchester City on the horizon, Chelsea have a chance to salvage a chaotic season with silverware — a trick they’ve pulled off before.