Chelsea took on Crystal Palace in what was a closely fought London derby at Wembley Stadium. Both teams were eyeing a place in this season’s FA Cup final, but it was the Blues that would ultimately come away with a 2-0 win to set up what will most definitely be a feisty rematch of the League Cup final against Liverpool in mid-May. There has been nothing to separate the two sides this season other than a missed Kepa Arrizabalaga penalty, so it only seems fair that they squad off against one another for a fourth time to settle the score. It’ll be one of the best matches of the season between two of Europe’s best teams, but before getting too ahead of ourselves, let’s take a look back at the semifinal match-up that got Chelsea there in the first place.
Here are three of the lessons we learnt from the Blues’ massive win over the Eagles:
1. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the very unlikely hero
Coming on in place of Mateo Kovacic—who unfortunately rolled his ankle halfway into the first half—Ruben Loftus-Cheek was once again called upon to perform in a position that he can hardly call his own. While his performance before the break mainly comprised of simple passes and comfortable one-twos with Jorginho, the Englishman gradually grew into the game and as the match progressed. He settled into his “new” role (different than the one he’s played in the last two contests against Southampton and Real Madrid) quite nicely over time.
Powering through Crystal Palace’s high-press on multiple occasions in the second half, Loftus-Cheek was instrumental in Chelsea’s most promising moments before he rifled in the opener from the edge of the Eagles’ penalty box. It was a tremendous half-volley that required technique of the highest order, and Loftus-Cheek’s jubilant celebrations afterwards are indicative of what that goal must have meant to the 26-year-old. Having had a career that has been blighted with various unfortunate and untimely injuries, witnessing the Chelsea academy product score in an FA Cup semifinal was undoubtedly the feel-good story of the day. Regardless of what the future may hold for him, this moment will certainly be one for Loftus-Cheek to cherish, especially if Chelsea does go on to lift the trophy on the 14th of May.
2. Chelsea’s shaky defence
Perhaps still slightly unsettled from the two late goals that Real Madrid scored to knock them out of this season’s Champions League, the Blues’ back line still appeared to be rather shaky against Crystal Palace. While the Eagles did not dominate possession, Crystal Palace continued to pose a legitimate threat from various set-piece opportunities. Patrick Vieira’s side was unlucky not to have scored at least once on the day given the quality attacks it was putting together.
Thomas Tuchel will undoubtedly have been unsettled by what he saw today given the fact he first established his side as a resolute defensive unit when coming to the club from Paris Saint-Germain. This is especially true given the identity has stuck with the Blues for well over a year now. Andreas Christensen, for one, does not possess the presence or aerial ability of Thiago Silva. The Blues simply do not look as assured when placed on the back foot without the Brazilian veteran at the heart of the Chelsea defence.
Moreover, Jorginho’s poor performance at the base of the Blues’ midfield served only to worsen the pressure that the back line had to contend with throughout the afternoon. Guilty of dwelling on the ball on multiple occasions in the first half, it is a tiny miracle that Chelsea did not concede as a result of Jorginho’s carelessness when in possession. It’s hard not to give him a bit of the benefit of the doubt given Kovacic’s early substitution, which had to play a small part in the way the Italian maestro approached the match. Nevertheless, with difficult games against Arsenal and West Ham United coming up in the next few days, individual mistakes like the ones on display Sunday have to be minimised. If Chelsea wants to come away with the maximum number of points and further solidify its hold on a top four finish in the Premier League, it needs to be near flawless.
3. Chelsea’s proud FA Cup record
Sunday’s victory over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semifinal means that Chelsea has now reached the final of the same competition in five of the past six seasons. Reaching the latter stages of the oldest cup competition in the world is becoming a routine seasonal achievement for the Blues, and this is undoubtedly a reflection of a competitive spirit that has remained constant, even as managers came and went.
Disappointingly, however, of the last four FA Cup finals Chelsea has reached, the Blues have only come away with the trophy once during Antonio Conte’s second season in charge. That 1-0 win over Manchester United—thanks to an Eden Hazard spot kick—is the only thing Chelsea has to show for its successful few seasons in the FA Cup. Painful defeats to Arsenal and Leicester City immediately come to mind when recounting the Blues’ past experiences in this competition, games that were not without multiple controversies where crucial decisions ultimately went against Chelsea in the end.
The recent League Cup final defeat is still fresh on the minds of many of those involved in the Chelsea first team, so the final against Liverpool on the 14th of May represents another opportunity to set things straight. The ownership issue is also still hanging over the club like a dark cloud that cannot seem to go away at this moment in time. Chelsea’s future as a consistently competitive club is very much in the balance, so supporters can’t take trophies for granted any longer, regardless of how meaningless some believe them to be. The point this writer is trying to make is that cup final appearances may yet become an increasingly rare occurrence in the future. It is up to the players, as well as Tuchel himself, to make this opportunity count.
What are some of the lessons you learnt in the victory? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!