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Chelsea Reach FA Cup Final Under Interim McFarlane as Manager Search Accelerates

The win offers a brief reset that heightens the urgency of appointing a permanent head coach.

Overview

  • Chelsea beat Leeds United 1-0 on Sunday at Wembley, with Enzo Fernández heading the winner to set up a May 16 FA Cup final against Manchester City.
  • Calum McFarlane took charge after Liam Rosenior was dismissed earlier in the week following five straight Premier League defeats without a goal, the club’s worst such run since 1912.
  • McFarlane called the result a relief and praised his players’ character, with goalkeeper Robert Sánchez making key saves to preserve Chelsea’s first clean sheet against top-flight opposition since January.
  • The club’s search for a permanent manager is underway, with reports saying Andoni Iraola is open to the job, Cesc Fàbregas is admired, and Porto’s Francesco Farioli has publicly ruled himself out.
  • Fernández’s display followed recent internal discipline and a spell out of the team under Rosenior, underscoring how player performances could shift Chelsea’s season as ownership faces scrutiny for repeated coaching changes since 2022.