Chelsea booked their place in the Emirates FA Cup final with a gritty 1‑0 victory over Leeds United at Wembley, just days after the dismissal of head coach Liam Rosenior. Interim boss Calum McFarlane oversaw a rejuvenated performance, capped by Enzo Fernández’s decisive first‑half header.
The win sets up a daunting showdown with Manchester City on May 16, and former Chelsea star Joe Cole believes the scale of the challenge could actually work in the Blues’ favor.
“Manchester City are the big bad wolves at the moment, they’re the team to beat, but Chelsea have turned up in big games,” Cole told TNT Sports. “When they have that little bit of fear in them, they seem to grow. You never know — on the day, anything could happen.”
Chelsea’s campaign has been turbulent, marked by managerial upheaval and inconsistent league form. Yet McFarlane’s calm leadership and Fernández’s fighting spirit have injected fresh belief.
McFarlane praised his midfielder’s resilience:
“The most impressive thing about him is that he’s a fighter. You don’t have to have the perfect game plan in those moments; he will run and compete and that is often the deciding factor.”
The Blues will be heavy outsiders against Pep Guardiola’s side, who have dominated recent meetings. Chelsea have not beaten City since their Champions League final triumph in 2021, losing all 13 encounters since. Still, McFarlane insists character and belief can bridge the gap.
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard echoed that sentiment, highlighting McFarlane’s authenticity:
“Be yourself, don’t change. He doesn’t have to try and be someone that he’s not. He’s given Chelsea fans something to look forward to in a couple of weeks.”
Chelsea’s FA Cup final appearance will be their first since 2022, when they lost to Liverpool on penalties. With Champions League qualification out of reach, victory at Wembley would salvage pride and end a difficult season on a high.
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