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LONDON, — Chelsea reached the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win over Leeds United at Wembley, days after sacking head coach Liam Rosenior and appointing interim boss Calum McFarlane.
Enzo Fernandez scored the only goal with a header in the 23rd minute, ending Chelsea’s 498-minute run without a goal against Premier League teams. It was also the club’s first clean sheet against top-flight opposition since January 17. The result sends Chelsea to a May 16 final against Manchester City.
The win came after a turbulent spell under Rosenior, who was dismissed after 106 days following a 3-0 loss at Brighton and a run of five league defeats without scoring. Owners BlueCo had brought Rosenior in from sister club Strasbourg, hoping he would represent their multi-club model.
Interim head coach McFarlane praised the squad’s response. “I wouldn’t question their character,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “That group has massive character.” He said results had led to criticism but the team showed fight at Wembley.
Fernandez, recently given a two-match suspension by the club after comments following a Champions League exit to PSG, was named man of the match. His goal was his 13th this season. Only Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, with 16, has more among Premier League midfielders in 2025-26.
Former England goalkeeper Rob Green said the performance showed how much influence players hold. “It was down to him how they played,” Green said of Fernandez on BBC Radio 5 Live. “Give a player an inch, they take a mile.”
The victory gives Chelsea a chance to salvage a chaotic season with silverware. Under current owners BlueCo, the club has won the Conference League and Club World Cup and now reached three finals with eight managers, including caretakers. That echoes the Roman Abramovich era from 2003 to 2022, when Chelsea won 18 major trophies and reached 30 finals under 15 managers, notably with caretaker Roberto di Matteo winning the Champions League and FA Cup in 2012.
Co-owner Behdad Eghbali watched from Wembley alongside England head coach Thomas Tuchel, who was the first manager sacked under BlueCo in September 2022.
Chelsea will face Manchester City in next month’s final.
Credit: BBC
