Chelsea Send a Statement in Their First Match After Axing Liam Rosenior

Chelsea secured a 1–0 win against Leeds United to book their place against Manchester City in next month's FA Cup final.

The Blues were guided by caretaker boss Calum McFarlane following the sacking of Liam Rosenior after a dismal 3–0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday evening, a result that stretched Chelsea's scoreless run in the Premier League to five consecutive matches.

The west Londoners had swept aside EFL opposition on their route to the last four, but came up against a determined Leeds United side fighting hard to preserve their Premier League status this season.

Nevertheless, Daniel Farke's men fell to McFarlane's side at Wembley, ending their hopes of appearing in the final for the first time since 1973—three years after the notorious showdown between these two clubs that helped spark their enduring rivalry.

Here are four key takeaways from Chelsea's semifinal triumph.

Captain Enzo Takes Center Stage

Chelsea's captain at Wembley had missed his side's commanding quarterfinal win over EFL League One outfit Port Vale. That absence followed the club's decision that he had crossed a line with remarks about his future at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Fernández served a two-match suspension as a consequence, but Chelsea have been eager to put the episode behind them and move forward. He continues to wear the armband in Reece James's absence, and the Argentine midfielder stepped up decisively for the Blues on this occasion.

There was plenty to admire about Chelsea's first-half showing, with Fernández flourishing in an advanced position that allowed him to exploit the space Leeds left between the lines. When the opposition tightened up, he was clever enough to drift out wide and help Chelsea push forward.

Leeds struggled to contain Fernández's movement until Farke brought on an additional midfielder at the break. By that point, Chelsea's No. 8 had already headed home what turned out to be the decisive goal, sneaking into the Leeds box to convert Pedro Neto's delivery.

That was the standout moment, but Fernández's first-half display offered so much more. His exceptional range of passing was on full display throughout.

Far Cry From Brighton Mess

Chelsea's performance on Tuesday night at Brighton was among their worst since BlueCo assumed ownership in 2022, with the team putting in such a lifeless display that the club's hierarchy felt compelled to make a change.

McFarlane isn't entirely a new face, having briefly stepped in following Enzo Maresca's exit in January, but the players appeared to respond positively to the Chelsea U21s coach.

There was nothing particularly groundbreaking tactically, with McFarlane relying on experienced players to help stabilize things after a torrid run in the Premier League. The Blues linked up well through midfield and used both João Pedro and Fernández to advance up the pitch, while also showing a willingness to go direct when needed.

Their possession play had a pleasing balance early on, and they should have put the game to bed when Pedro found himself with an open goal following a slick team move. His hesitation kept Leeds in contention, and Chelsea were forced to dig deep to hold on. Still, the determination shown late in the game would have delighted McFarlane and the supporters.

While Robert Sánchez was called upon to produce a couple of crucial stops, Chelsea never appeared to be under serious threat, despite Leeds improving after the break. They looked relatively in control, largely because every player seemed fully committed to the team effort.

When was the last time you saw Cole Palmer this disruptive without the ball?

Familiar Story for Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho was far from a crowd favourite at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.

The self-assured Argentine has yet to win over a skeptical fanbase that still pines for the effortless brilliance of Eden Hazard. On top of that, his Manchester United background meant the Leeds supporters were particularly vocal every time the winger got on the ball.

In essence, Garnacho embodies the underwhelming quality Chelsea have accumulated out wide. The Argentine is an intelligent runner off the ball who can get in behind defences, but his limitations become apparent when asked to beat a defender in a one-on-one situation or to finish off a chance.

He lacks the variety in his dribbling to consistently trouble Premier League fullbacks, and his hesitancy in front of goal is particularly frustrating for a player who appears to hold himself in very high regard.

His tally of eight goals this season—four of which came in the Carabao Cup—is unlikely to grow significantly over the coming weeks. He only arrived last summer, but would any Chelsea supporter genuinely be disappointed if the club parted ways with Garnacho after just one underwhelming campaign?

Blues Aiming to End FA Cup Final Losing Streak

Fernández's header and Sánchez's saves have sent Chelsea into the FA Cup final for the 17th time—only Manchester United (22) and Arsenal (21) have made more appearances. They will take on an in-form Manchester City at Wembley on May 16, looking to snap their losing streak in domestic cup finals.

Chelsea celebrated UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup triumphs last May and July respectively, but they have not lifted the FA Cup or Carabao Cup since Antonio Conte signed off with the former trophy back in 2018.

Since that victory, the Blues have suffered defeat in three Carabao Cup finals, including one against Manchester City, as well as three FA Cup finals—losing three in succession across 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Chelsea were once synonymous with FA Cup success in the 21st century, claiming six titles across just 19 years from 2000, but they have struggled to deliver on the biggest occasions at Wembley in recent times. They tend to perform well as underdogs in knockout football, so perhaps the squad will embrace the challenge of facing heavily favoured Manchester City next month.

McFarlane has already gotten under Pep Guardiola's skin once before ...