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Chelsea’s FA Cup squad revealed ambition but missed opportunities

By The Pride of London Staff

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Pedro of Chelsea celebrates scoring the opening goal with team-mate Willian during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux on February 18, 2017 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Pedro of Chelsea celebrates scoring the opening goal with team-mate Willian during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux on February 18, 2017 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images) /
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Antonio Conte played a strong squad against Wolves to ensure Chelsea advanced to the FA Cup quarterfinals. His side delivered the win, but a less ambitious XI could have done so as well.

Antonio Conte played five of his Premier League starters in the FA Cup quarter-finals against Wolves. Two of them – Pedro and Diego Costa – scored in the win. Costa’s late goal may have validated Conte’s lineup decision, as it halted Costa’s goal drought at three games.

However, Chelsea’s Premier League stars did not out-perform their less-experienced teammates not did they overwhelm Wolves. Only two points separate Chelsea’s fourth round opponent Brentford and Wolves in the Championship table. Yet Chelsea’s nominally weaker squad put four goals over the Bees.

"I don’t think the lineup was necessary for the opponent we had. He did not underestimate Wolves, but there was nothing to suggest that the team Chelsea have played in the FA Cup previously would not get the same result. Costa and Hazard did nothing particularly special during the game that would warrant them having that involvement. – Rayna Sidhu, The Blue Lions"

Conte showed Wolves and the FA Cup a solid amount of respect with his starting XI. Wolves eliminated a weak Liverpool side in the previous round, and non-league Lincoln City knocked out a sub-prime Burnley side earlier in the day. Chelsea’s lineup may have had as much to do with the rest of the schedule this month as the tie itself.

"The Peterborough game came after the game away at Spurs. The Brentford game came a couple of day before the big game at Anfield. Conte had to do more rotation in those scenarios. Going into Wolves Chelsea had no game midweek before it or after it, so there was a good amount of time for rest and recuperation. – Daniel Childs, The Blue Lions"

Conte’s XI against Wolves may be his preferred lineup for this competition. The squad in the earlier rounds may have been more influenced by the surrounding Premier League title tilts. Given that Chelsea faces Manchester United in the next round, Michy Batshuayi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek may find playing time even scarcer than it already was.

Chelsea’s schedule allowed Antonio Conte to play many of his starters without compromising their rest and recovery. In doing so, though, he denied valuable experience and minutes to prospects who are somewhat unfairly on the fringe.

Some combination of Batshuayi, Loftus-Cheek and Kenedy would likely have produced a similar win. Pedro and Willian played in the earlier FA Cup matches. At least one of them would have been in the squad to provide leadership and tested quality against Wolves.

Next: Chelsea will host Mourinho's Manchester United in FA Cup quarter-finals

The Blues won at Molineux, but may have missed opportunities just the same.

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