Like a bad movie franchise with too many sequels, Chelsea lost at Wembley by following a very familiar script.
All the main plot lines were there in Chelsea’s 1-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City: bad finishing, poor game management at key moments, sloppy defending to concede, no luck, and at least one big decision by the match officials not going their way.
It was just oh-so-predictable, right? Like you had seen this game play out before and knew the ending long before it actually came — well, the EFL Cup Final loss to Liverpool did unfold in a similar fashion just two months before.
Unlike their last visit to the national stadium in February, there was no coming second-best to inexperienced players in extra time and accusations of being ‘bottle jobs’ afterwards. However there was a similarity in how things were stacked in their favour and they failed to make the most of it. In this case, Chelsea faced a Manchester City side that were shattered, both physically and mentally, following their Champions League exit to Real Madrid less than 72 hours before.
This was another reminder that things have to change for Chelsea to become a major force again. After all, this is the first time since Roman Abramovich took control in 2003 that the club have gone successive seasons without a trophy.
Here are just a few of the key factors that need to be considered over the weeks and months ahead…
Does Mauricio Pochettino stay or go?
Chelsea always planned to assess the season after its conclusion and one of the aspects under most scrutiny will be Pochettino’s performance.
The hope was that Chelsea would qualify for the Champions League via a top-four finish in the Premier League. That has been out of the question for months and the team needs a strong end to the campaign just to book a spot in the Europa League or Conference League. Reaching the latter stages of both domestic cup competitions has provided cause for optimism, but not lifting either trophy also raises questions — not for the first time in his career — over whether Pochettino is a ‘winner’.
There are mitigating circumstances for the underachievement. The injury list has been consistently large all season, robbing Pochettino of competition within the ranks and options to explore.
Most of the squad were bought before the Argentine took over last July. With a number of players yet to justify their price tags, does the blame lie with the head coach or with those responsible for the recruitment? In saying that, one of the reasons Pochettino was hired was due to his record of working with, and improving, young players.
Pochettino has one year left on his contract, plus the option for another 12 months. The 52-year-old is not talking like a man who expects to be going anywhere soon. There have been several references lately, including in the aftermath of Saturday’s game, to what he thinks needs to happen next season and conversations he intends to have with the hierarchy about it.
There are not a vast array of top-quality coaches available for hire. Then you have to consider teams like Liverpool and Bayern Munich, who have vacancies, will be far more attractive propositions than Chelsea at the moment.
Pochettino is well liked and respected within the club. There will be fans who think he should be gone regardless, but this should only be considered if there is a better option willing to take his place. Finding a successor did not tend to be a problem in the Roman Abramovich era, you cannot say the same now.
(Michael Regan – The FA via Getty Images)
Sign more experienced players
Chelsea have one of the youngest squads in the Premier League and with Thiago Silva expected to leave this summer, one of the few ‘leaders’ they possess will be gone.
Pochettino has consistently highlighted the immaturity of his players as a reason for their inconsistency. Ahead of the Everton game last week, he suggested that adapting the strategy (buying talent with potential under the age of 25) is a topic that will be discussed over the coming weeks.
Nobody is suggesting Chelsea should suddenly change tack by acquiring lots of players in their late twenties or early thirties on high salaries. Pochettino is not saying that either, but the arrival of one or two more established names would help.
Improve the use of substitutes
This topic is particularly relevant if Pochettino stays. Yes, he will undoubtedly point to games where he has made changes and it has paid off. Yet more often than not, it has felt like decisions have come too late, that Pochettino is reactive rather than proactive.
Saturday provided another instance. Chelsea were starting to labour in attack and yet Raheem Sterling, who scored home and away against Manchester City in the Premier League this season, did not come on until the 88th minute, four minutes after Bernardo Silva put City in front. The first two Chelsea substitutions came in the 79th minute and one of those was forced due to right-back Malo Gusto suffering an injury.
Pochettino often complains about senior players being tired but is reluctant to use academy players to lighten the load. The way Cesare Casadei has barely featured since being recalled from loan at Leicester in January is a prime example.
Buy a centre-forward
Nicolas Jackson has shown promise but needs someone to at least share the burden of leading the line. Chelsea have not been helped by Christopher Nkunku making only 10 appearances (just two starts) since joining from RB Leipzig last summer due to injury.
Finding a sure thing will not be easy. It is a competitive market and with the possibility of no European football to offer, Chelsea will be at a disadvantage. Strikers do not come cheap and their ability to adhere to profit and sustainability rules is an increasing concern.
But Chelsea need to resolve this issue. Chelsea’s struggles at Wembley epitomise the problem. Their last goal there was scored by Mason Mount in the FA Cup semi-final two years ago. Chelsea have played there for 344 minutes since without finding the net.
GO DEEPER
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(Top image: Justin Setterfield – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
