Chelsea can draw on the experience of last year’s Club World Cup win, a defiant performance that saw them surprise Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-0 half-time lead. That tactical masterstroke from Enzo Maresca disrupted the European champions, offering a blueprint for Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.
Underdogs with a Point to Prove
A defiant performance against Manchester City could deliver silverware in a year of disruption. Chelsea have already sacked two head coaches this season, but they have form when it comes to upsetting the odds. The challenge now is no longer Maresca’s; it falls to caretaker manager Calum McFarlane, who previously drew with City in January.
The Subplot: Maresca’s Past and Future
The clash is tinged with irony: Maresca’s past and future may collide. Chelsea’s season began to unravel when their former head coach acted like a man wanting to leave. His infamous “worst 48 hours” comment after a win over Everton still lingers. If Guardiola steps down and Maresca joins City, Chelsea’s reaction will be telling.
Chelsea never intended a mid-season change. Champions League qualification was the baseline, not McFarlane leading out the first team at Wembley. But Maresca’s departure on New Year’s Day triggered chaos. Liam Rosenior left after 106 days, with a historically bad run and dressing room revolt. Questions about the BlueCo project resurfaced.
McFarlane’s second caretaker stint has brought little improvement. Players turn their performance on and off too readily. Defiance flowed in the FA Cup semi-final win over Leeds, but barely a trickle followed in a 3-1 home loss to Nottingham Forest reserves, damaging European hopes.
A Knack for Lifting Against Tough Opposition
That shocker made it hard to admire Chelsea’s better football in a 1-1 draw at Liverpool. Yet their knack of rising to tougher opposition gives them a chance against City, despite a 4-0 league defeat last month. They haven’t beaten Guardiola since the 2021 Champions League final.
McFarlane could be an unlikely hero. Ending a run of six straight Wembley final defeats and winning the FA Cup for the first time since 2018 would salvage respect. But it would also highlight how players have let themselves down. Some miss Maresca; many didn’t take to Rosenior. The post-New Year slump cannot continue.
“It’s tough to hear because you know the work you put in,” said midfielder Roméo Lavia. “But sometimes the truth hurts.” Fixing the dressing room culture is key for the next manager. Xabi Alonso, the standout candidate, is ideally placed to push the squad into line. Talks with the former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager are progressing well.
Alonso would have player support, and the situation is expected to accelerate after the final. Chelsea also like Andoni Iraola but have tracked Alonso since 2023. Convincing the 44-year-old would boost the project. Chelsea are not as far off as critics think: Reece James and Moisés Caicedo signed new deals, Levi Colwill is back, and Cole Palmer stars. The club is in “self-reflection,” planning to add experience around young talent.
“The day I lose belief, I will probably be the first to leave,” Lavia said. “When you’re in the building, never at any point do you see a loss of belief. I believe we will turn it around and get back to the Chelsea everyone knows.” The Chelsea everyone knew were a winning machine. Beating City would be cause for celebration, but it risks being a flash in the pan. Chelsea must not lose sight of the bigger picture if they want to put the past six months behind them.
