Enzo Fernandez don save Chelsea again, carry dem go FA Cup final

Liam Rosenior thoughts for Wembley on Saturday afternoon go be worth more than penny, as Chelsea players take acclaim from supporters after reaching FA Cup final. Chelsea 1-0 win against Leeds United show best of talented group, but also some worst given desperate efforts wey lead to Rosenior being shown door after only 106 days.

If Rosenior watch this scrappy semi-final, decided by Enzo Fernandez first-half header, he go right to question where all that fight and determination wey show for Wembley were when he dey at helm. These na basics any head coach suppose take as given, but absent under Rosenior during desperate run of five league losses without scoring, fate wey never befall Chelsea since 1912.

Here, with FA Cup final against Manchester City back at Wembley on 16 May as prize, those qualities miraculously – or perhaps predictably – return, allowing Chelsea to grind out victory. Chelsea players, and their derided owners BlueCo, now get opportunity to save shambolic season with silverware, trick wey club don perform often in past.

Roman Abramovich ‘hire ’em, fire ’em’ strategy inflict instability on Chelsea, but also be catalyst for great glory. For Abramovich era, wey stretch from July 2003 to May 2022, Chelsea win 18 major honours and two Community Shields, contesting 30 finals under 15 managers, including caretakers and interims. Classic case come for 2012, when caretaker manager Roberto di Matteo win Champions League and FA Cup after succeeding sacked Andre Villas-Boas.

Under BlueCo leadership, Chelsea don win two major honours – Conference League and Club World Cup – and now don reach three finals under eight managers, including caretakers and interims. Now, from wreckage of chaotic campaign, Chelsea fit perform feat again – providing players wey don go missing so often this season show up against Manchester City and play to their capabilities.

E clear from Rosenior latter days say e don lose faith of dressing room. Dismal 3-0 loss at Brighton be final straw for ownership wey desperately want 41-year-old – brought in from another of their clubs, Strasbourg – to succeed as symbol of their multi-club model.

E no exactly be glowing reference for Chelsea players say sight of interim head coach Calum McFarlane on touchline – or indeed anyone wey no be Rosenior – prompt instant uplift in performance and attitude. McFarlane tell BBC Radio 5 Live after game say team character don ‘questioned a lot and rightly so at times’ – but no by am. ‘I wouldn’t question their character,’ e add. ‘E don questioned because of results. We dey play against top teams, you get in a rut. People dey reactive to results. That group get massive character.’

Indeed, this na better day for Chelsea much-criticised hierarchy, with co-owner Behdad Eghbali for close proximity at Wembley to England head coach Thomas Tuchel, first manager to be shown door under im rule when dem dismiss am on new regime 100th day for September 2022.

Central to all na match-winner Fernandez, game outstanding performer. Argentine first-half header, planted firmly past Lucas Perri after 23 minutes, turn out to be decisive moment. E end run of 498 minutes without Chelsea goal against Premier League clubs for all competitions. Victory secure with their first clean sheet against top-flight opposition since 17 January.

This na same Fernandez recently given two-match suspension by Chelsea after Rosenior say e don ‘cross line’ following their Champions League exit against Paris St-Germain by giving interview hinting at departure. Assumption be say e dey flutter im eyelashes at Real Madrid. For Wembley, wetin suppose be normal service for World Cup winner resume. Fernandez be inspiration behind Chelsea win, no just with im goal but all-round effort. E take im goal tally this season to 13. Only midfielder to score more for Premier League club for 2025-26 na Nottingham Forest Morgan Gibbs-White with 16.

Former England goalkeeper Rob Green, wey get spell at Stamford Bridge towards end of im career, reflect on how Wembley displays of Chelsea and Fernandez contrast sharply with those produced for Rosenior final days. ‘Dem be product of system wey dem dey and for modern-day football,’ Green talk on BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘E ugly but dem get all power and e epitomised by Fernandez. E run game. E down to am how dem play. Dat no healthy for football club but for Chelsea e get dem to finals. Give player inch, dem take mile. Chelsea do wetin Chelsea do. Dem get one big moment for game, Leeds get three or four, but no take dem and dat be difference. And wetin difference new face for technical area make – especially amid dysfunction and turbulence wey characterise Chelsea.’