Chelsea 2 Crystal Palace 0
Whoever ends up buying Chelsea will know they could save themselves a lot of money by investing in the club’s thriving academy. It is the gift that keeps on giving and while there will always be a place for expensive foreign signings there is no reason for Thomas Tuchel to stop trusting in the kids.
Academy products were crucial to Chelsea reaching their second successive FA Cup final, where they will face Liverpool next month. Victory over a toothless Crystal Palace was secured by Mason Mount and this was also a huge moment in the career of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who opened this game up by scoring the breakthrough goal midway through the second half.
Loftus-Cheek is a player who is yet to fulfil his vast potential. There have been disappointing loans, a series of cruel injuries and times when it has seemed his future lies away from Chelsea. Crucially, though, the midfielder still retains Tuchel’s support. Chelsea’s manager is pushing Loftus-Cheek, whose goal came with Gareth Southgate watching on from the stands, and he will want more if the 26-year-old is to earn a place in his squad once new owners arrive.
It was bewildering to think that Chelsea’s previous appearance at Wembley had come less than 24 hours after Roman Abramovich announced his fanciful plan to hand control of the club to its trustees. So much has happened since that February afternoon, which ended with Kepa Arrizabalaga’s wayward penalty giving the Carabao Cup to Liverpool, and there is still no way of knowing what comes next in this strangest of takeover sagas. Todd Boehly’s consortium? Lord Coe and Sir Martin Broughton’s group? Or will it be Stephen Pagliuca, recently seen assuring Atalanta fans of his commitment to their club, who finds himself holding the keys to Stamford Bridge?
Whatever the answer the only thing that feels certain at the moment is that Chelsea must trust in Tuchel. The German has been a voice of calm throughout the last few weeks and has now guided Chelsea into six major finals.
The noise and colour had come from Palace fans at first. Red and blue smoke billowed from their end at the start and they liked what they saw from their improving young side during the first half. Palace scrapped for possession and were quick to push on the break, Andreas Christensen forced to step in early on when Jean-Phillipe Mateta threatened to break through.
But the opening period was tight and cagey. Unable to select Conor Gallgher against his parent club under the terms of the midfielder’s loan, Patrick Vieira decided to use a back three for the first time this season. The intention was to squeeze the space and it made for a dull spectacle, with Wilfried Zaha unable to shake off Reece James and Eberechi Eze offering little as Gallagher’s replacement.
As for Chelsea, they looked drained after their heroic effort against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu. There were only three changes from Tuchel, who brought Christensen, Jorginho and César Azpilicueta in for Thiago Silva, N’Golo Kanté and Loftus-Cheek, and his side struggled to build any momentum at first.
Palace were not giving anything away. Azpilicueta wasted Chelsea’s clearest opening, shanking a volley wide when it seemed easier to bring the ball down. Crosses were headed away and too many ponderous moves broke down. Only when Timo Werner ran down the left and beyond a few Palace defenders after 38 minutes did the temperature rise, Kai Havertz spoiled the mood by faking contact from Marc Guéhi, prompting Anthony Taylor to book the German for diving.
Palace went closest during the first half. A free-kick was headed to Cheikhou Kouyaté and his fierce low shot drew an outstanding save from Édouard Mendy. Tuchel had reason to feel concerned. Chelsea, who had to replace Mateo Kovacic with Loftus-Cheek midway through the opening period, needed more intensity after the break. They pushed Palace back and were close to going ahead when Werner ran through on goal, forcing Jack Butland to make a smothering save.
Vieira was concerned. He withdrew Mateta for Andre Ayew in a bid to improve his side’s attack, but it had no effect. Chelsea had taken control and it was not a surprise when they took the lead after winning the ball back deep in Palace’s half. Havertz dribbled down the right and when his cross hit Guéhi the ball fell invitingly for Loftus-Cheek, who had time and space to send a rising shot past Butland thanks to a slight touch off Joachim Andersen.
There was no way back for Palace, who responded by introducing Michael Olise and Christian Benteke. They could not touch Chelsea’s defence and their dream was over with 15 minutes left. Werner’s pass from the left was nice and Mount’s first touch was even better. The midfielder was too quick for Palace’s faltering defence and his lovely, cool finish into Butland’s bottom-left corner ensured that Chelsea will be back at Wembley to face Liverpool.
- Guardian
