Chelsea's FA Cup Final Challenge Amidst Turmoil
Chelsea have appeared in 16 FA Cup finals to date, winning eight and losing eight, including defeats in their last three finals consecutively.
As they approach the FA Cup final, Chelsea face an unusual situation: no permanent manager, a frustrated fanbase, and a pressing question about whether a victory over Manchester City at Wembley would be sufficient to redeem their season.
While winning a trophy would certainly please supporters, concerns about a difficult campaign and dissatisfaction with the Clearlake-Boehly ownership group are expected to remain.
A draw against Liverpool last weekend prevented Chelsea from becoming the first team to lose seven consecutive league matches before an FA Cup final. However, this result did not improve their Premier League standing, as they remain ninth in the table, with their initial goal of qualifying for the Champions League effectively out of reach.
Qualification for any European competition is uncertain, but a win on Saturday would guarantee a spot in the Europa League, the second-tier European tournament, a result likely to be welcomed by both players and club management.
The club's situation is further complicated by strict UEFA financial regulations imposed following a settlement last year, which limit their spending as they search for a new head coach.
Among the candidates reportedly on Chelsea's shortlist are Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, Fulham's Marco Silva, and former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso. Chelsea insiders maintain the selection process is open, though Alonso is widely regarded externally as the favored choice.
Former head coach Enzo Maresca departed after a disagreement with club leadership on New Year's Day, with speculation that he may be positioned to succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City if Guardiola leaves.
Maresca's successor, Liam Rosenior, recruited from partner club Strasbourg, lasted less than four months. Interim head coach Calum McFarlane, the first Englishman to lead a team into an FA Cup final since Frank Lampard in 2020, now holds the role.
In January, McFarlane earned a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium in his first senior managerial experience, but Guardiola's Manchester City remain strong favorites for the final.
A victory on Saturday would not only secure Chelsea's first domestic trophy since 2018 but, despite any celebrations, is unlikely to quell supporter dissatisfaction at Stamford Bridge.
Fans can watch live coverage on BBC One and BBC , with build-up from 13:15 BST, and listen to full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and . Live text commentary and TV and radio coverage are available on the website and app.
Protests and Decline Are Setting In
Supporters have staged protests against BlueCo ownership throughout the season.
Not A Project CFC, a growing protest movement, has organized a march along Wembley Way at 13:30 BST before the match. The demonstration will feature a large banner highlighting concerns not only about BlueCo's ownership but also the club's sporting directors.
Three days later, during Chelsea's final home match of the season against Tottenham, fans plan to turn their backs to the pitch in the 22nd minute, symbolizing the year 2022 when BlueCo acquired the club.
The group stated the protest aims to publicly express their lack of confidence in the current ownership and the club's direction.
They emphasized that demonstrations will continue regardless of Chelsea appointing their sixth permanent manager, with fan frustration focusing on football-related issues.
These concerns include perceived underwhelming returns on over £1.6bn spent primarily on young players, with calls for accountability from the five sporting directors responsible for recruitment.
This movement operates separately from the Chelsea Supporters' Trust, which has recently offered more measured criticism while concentrating on advocating for fairer ticketing policies.
Chelsea maintain they are attentive to fan concerns and that accountability mechanisms are integrated into their system.
Within the club, there is frustration over Chelsea's slide down the league table, partly attributed to Maresca's unexpected mid-season departure, a factor that influenced the decision to appoint Rosenior.
Unlike Maresca, Rosenior left on good terms but lost support within the dressing room, leading to the belief that an interim appointment such as McFarlane's would better serve success in both the FA Cup and Premier League.
The club describes this period as one of "self-reflection" but stresses that their objectives of building a winning team and achieving greater stability in the head coach role remain unchanged.
Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali acknowledged the club "haven't done [that] right yet" in selecting a head coach and indicated plans to adjust their transfer policy to acquire more experienced players.
Player Power and a Broader Identity Crisis
Enzo Fernandez was excluded from Chelsea's squad for two matches after Liam Rosenior stated he had crossed a line.
Rosenior sought to assert authority and improve team culture by dropping players such as Fernandez following his comments about a potential move to Real Madrid. Criticism of the club's project has also come from Marc Cucurella.
However, the decision to exclude Fernandez had little positive effect and coincided with a historic run of six consecutive defeats without scoring, Chelsea's worst streak in 114 years.
Despite this, Reece James and Moises Caicedo have recently signed new contracts, and Cole Palmer has denied rumors of a move to Manchester United.
Joao Pedro has been linked with Barcelona but is considered not for sale and expressed happiness at Chelsea in a recent interview.
In a separate interview with UK newspapers before the final, Romeo Lavia described criticism suggesting players had lost motivation as "tough to hear," acknowledging the squad has faced scrutiny over culture and leadership issues.
Joao Pedro, who has emerged as a leader since joining in the summer, stated:
"In the difficult moment you want to see who wants to win, who want to improve. We have had a tough moment in the Premier League.
"I spoke with everyone here, especially with Reece. We need to change. We need to do something as players. We have conversations between us and everyone is very committed to improve and put Chelsea where it deserves."
Chelsea have not defeated Manchester City since the 2021 Champions League final, a period during which City have maintained a 13-game unbeaten streak against Chelsea across all competitions, including 10 wins. This is the longest such run Chelsea have faced since before Roman Abramovich's takeover in 2003.
However, Chelsea's decline began before BlueCo's acquisition, as they became the first English club under Abramovich to lose three consecutive FA Cup finals and six consecutive domestic cup finals.
This contributes to a broader identity crisis, with fans longing for a return to the early Abramovich era's success but experiencing similar managerial instability under American ownership without comparable achievements.
An Interim Springboard for Success?
Interim managers have previously won major trophies at Chelsea. Guus Hiddink secured the FA Cup in 2009, Roberto Di Matteo led the club to its first Champions League title in 2012, and Rafa Benitez won the Europa League the following year.
Chelsea have historically thrived amid internal chaos, while other clubs with more stable leadership have sometimes failed to convert that into trophies.
"Well, we just won two trophies last year, so, you know, it kind of depends - a rough patch for whom?"fellow Clearlake co-founder Jose Feliciano told Bloomberg.
"Arsenal hasn't won in 20 years, as far as I have checked - or maybe they've won something - but anyway, we have just won two trophies."
Nevertheless, Chelsea are attempting to transition from chaos to the stability seen at clubs like Arsenal or Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp.
They currently have five sporting directors, a squad built around young players on long-term contracts, and are still seeking a head coach to unify the project.
Regarding fan protests, Jacob from Not A Project CFC commented:
"There's a bigger disconnect across the fanbase than I can remember in over 30 years. Nothing has been done to bridge that gap.
"Some may call us entitled. Yes, we've had things to cheer about - like a couple of trophies over the summer - but that papered over cracks. They had a platform to move forward but took us further back.
"We have standards built over the last 20 years and they haven't been met."
Winning the FA Cup would reduce criticism, secure European qualification, and provide bragging rights, but many underlying issues are likely to take years to resolve.
Latest Chelsea news, analysis, and fan perspectives.
Ask about Chelsea - what do you want to know?
