LONDON: “Exceptional” Enzo Fernandez lifted Chelsea’s gloom on Sunday with a Wembley winner to book an FA Cup final meeting with Manchester City.
With the club dealing with the fallout of head coach Liam Rosenior’s midweek sacking after just 106 days in charge, the £107 million ($144 million) midfielder’s 23rd-minute strike settled the outcome against Leeds United.
It was a moment of redemption for captain Fernandez as he sent Chelsea into a 17th FA Cup final.
The Argentina international was suspended by his club for the quarterfinal win over Port Vale earlier this month for “crossing the line” in an interview where he spoke about a desire to play for Real Madrid.
While his future remains uncertain, and Manchester City also linked with a summer move, Fernandez came to the fore for his side with a 13th goal of the campaign.
Interim boss Calum McFarlane, who has taken charge until the end of the season, said: “He’s a winner. He’s got so much talent, he’s got so much fight, he’s massive for this group.
“And the best thing about Enzo is that he can do a bit of everything. But when it gets tough you see the fight in him, you see him driving the group on, you see him making tackles, you see him fighting for every loose ball. So he was exceptional.”
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez also made crucial saves to deny Brenden Aaronson and Anton Stach.
McFarlane said: “I think it was important to break the momentum and the form that we were in.
“One moment, one result, one performance can change that and that’s what we’ve been going after in terms of shifting the momentum in the group. We want to win every single game from now to the end of the season. We want to do it for ourselves, we want to do it for the fans and the club.”
Chelsea, who won the last of their eight FA Cups in 2022, enjoyed an infamous 1970 triumph over their opponents in a replay. And this was another feisty, nervy affair between the two sides.
Rosenior’s departure, having only replaced Enzo Maresca in January, has left Chelsea looking for a sixth manager in just four years under BlueCo’s ownership.
Fans have been left disgruntled by the club’s disturbing and disappointing plight since being crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions last summer.
With Rosenior no longer under scrutiny, the onus was on the players to change their fortunes on the pitch after a dreadful recent run, which included five successive top flight losses without scoring a goal — the first time that has happened since 1912.
But they were indebted to keeper Sanchez to prevent them going behind in the 14th minute.
After a loose pass was cut out, Leeds set up a slick counterattack where Dominic Calvert-Lewin released Aaronson into space behind the Blues’ backline and the American’s low shot was stopped by the outstretched boot of Sanchez.
Chelsea made the most of their reprieve as Pedro Neto, in his 100th appearance for the club, broke down the right and chipped over a cross that was met by a firm header from Fernandez.
From there they took control and Joao Pedro thudded the post with a low strike and then collected a pass on his chest to volley another effort wide.
Chelsea had led 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in their Premier League game against Leeds in February, only for the visitors to fight back for a 2-2 draw.
That followed a 3-1 defeat at Elland Road in December, offering hope to Farke’s men.
And a change of personnel and formation at halftime almost had them level just after the restart.
Substitutes Joe Rodon and Stach, who replaced Jaka Bijol and James Justin as Leeds sacrificed a defender for much-needed strength in midfield, combined on the edge of the box following a corner.
Germany international Stach met a pass with his first touch, a vicious swerving strike that arrowed toward the net until Sanchez stretched out a strong right hand to deny him.
The Chelsea keeper was again well placed in the 58th minute to save a Calvert-Lewin header.
Stach and Ao Tanaka were off target with further opportunities and that lack of ruthlessness in attack proved decisive in their first FA Cup semifinal appearance since 1987.
With hopes of a first FA Cup success since 1972 ended, disappointed manager Farke must now focus on trying to keep his side in the top flight.
“We would have loved to let them dream a bit bit longer. Perhaps they were a bit too nervous in order to be at their very best level,” the German said.
“From tomorrow onwards we just concentrate on our bread and butter business and this is to earn survival on permanent level.”
