Chelsea: Four things to look for in the FA Cup semifinal vs Man United

2. How does Chelsea cope with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes?

It’s hard to understate just how transformative Bruno Fernandes has been for this Manchester United side. Since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January, no player has been as singularly impactful as the Portuguese midfielder. If United needs a goal, assist or a dodgy penalty decision, all eyes turn to Fernandes now.

Perhaps most importantly, the steady productivity of Fernandes has allowed Paul Pogba to be the player he was at Juventus. Pogba is at his best when he can go and find the match, rather than sticking diligently to a certain role on the pitch. In Turin, he was flanked by workhorses like Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio. Even the chief playmaking role was held by Andrea Pirlo, leaving Pogba with no real responsibilities, even under the exacting tutelage of Antonio Conte.

Since he returned to Manchester United, the expectation has been for Pogba to be a leader on the pitch, pushing the team back to the heights of its former glory. Frankly, he’s just not that kind of player. With such a burden dropped on his shoulders, it’s no wonder he hasn’t reached the level he showed at Juventus.

Fernandes, on the other hand, does look like the kind of player who will drag his entire team to victory in spite of themselves. The responsibilities of a more traditional attacking midfield suit his game much better than Pogba’s, and United’s uptick in form since his arrival is proof. It’s certainly not a flawless side, but United is quickly moving in the right direction, or the wrong one from Chelsea’s perspective.

As for the Blues, coping with that midfield duo will be the first order of business if they intend to book a place in the final. Lampard’s midfield has been the biggest toss-up all season, in terms of both personnel and performance. While the deepest of the midfield three will likely be N’Golo Kante or, sigh, Jorginho, it’s the other two selections who will be responsible for containing Pogba and Fernandes.

Given that he was rested against Norwich, Mason Mount seems like an obvious pick for one spot. He’ll offer the athleticism and tenacity to at least put some pressure on the midfielders. The other spot is likely to be one of Ross Barkley or Mateo Kovacic. Kovacic has the type of direct play and utter relentlessness that is always appreciated, but his fitness is still a question mark, and he’ll be an easy matchup for Pogba in terms of strength and height. Barkley is pretty much the polar opposite, with a physique that can stand up to Pogba and Fernandes, but a general skillset that might not acquit itself as well to the intensity of the task at hand.

Regardless of who plays, the directive from Lampard will be pretty simple. Limit their time on the ball, get physical and try to pin them in their own half. That’s much easier said than done, but if Chelsea can gain any advantage in midfield, it will go a long way towards earning a glorious victory over the Red Devils.