Enzo Fernandez scored the only goal as Chelsea defeated Leeds 1-0 to book a FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Fernandez’s first-half header in Sunday’s semi-final at Wembley was an ironic twist after another farcical chapter in Chelsea’s turbulent recent history.
The 25-year-old midfielder emerged as a divisive figure towards the end of Liam Rosenior’s brief reign after he was dropped for two games for hinting in an interview that he was considering leaving at the end of the season.
Rosenior was sacked on Wednesday after a woeful run of five successive defeats without scoring – the club’s worst streak since 1912 – climaxed with Tuesday’s 3-0 hammering at Brighton.
Man City edge Southampton to reach fourth consecutive FA Cup final
Chelsea’s woeful run has ruined their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League, leaving them 10 points behind fifth-placed Aston Villa with just four games left.
But, now led by interim manager Calum McFarlane, the Blues can partially salvage a miserable campaign by winning the FA Cup for the first time since 2018.
They will face City in the final on May 16 after Pep Guardiola’s side came from behind to beat second tier Southampton 2-1 on Saturday.
Eight-time FA Cup winners Chelsea are into the final for the 17th time in their history and the first since losing to Liverpool in the 2022 showpiece.
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