Chelsea and manager Mauricio Pochettino continue to be haunted by the label of “nearly men” after their recent defeat against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final. Despite their efforts, Chelsea once again fell short on the big occasion, with many of their wounds being self-inflicted.
This is not the first time Chelsea has experienced such disappointment. In the Carabao Cup Final in February, they were defeated by a youthful and injury-ravaged Liverpool, leaving them to regret missed opportunities. The feeling of “what might have been” resurfaced in the FA Cup semi-final as well, especially after referee Michael Oliver declined to award a penalty for a potential handball.
While Chelsea may argue that the penalty incident was unjust, they cannot ignore the fact that they had numerous chances to secure victory. However, their misfiring striker, Nicolas Jackson, proved to be their downfall once again. This allowed Manchester City, despite their fatigue from previous matches, to take advantage and score a late winning goal.
Mauricio Pochettino’s pursuit of his first trophy in England has been met with disappointment once more. Although he has proven to be a very good manager, he has yet to join the elite group due to his team’s inability to win in crucial moments. It is particularly disappointing for Chelsea as they would have been confident of victory in the final against either Coventry City or Manchester United.
One of the major flaws in Chelsea’s transfer strategy under the Todd Boehly era is their failure to acquire a reliable striker. This oversight has haunted them in crucial matches, including this FA Cup semi-final. The lack of a ruthless edge in front of goal has cost them dearly.
Wembley Stadium, once a happy hunting ground for Chelsea, has become a nightmare in recent seasons. They have lost several finals at this venue, including the 2022 League and FA Cup finals to Liverpool on penalties after goalless draws. Additionally, they have failed to score in five of their past six games at Wembley.
While there are signs of progress under Pochettino, their record in pressure situations this season highlights that there is still work to be done. Pochettino will require time and patience to build the finished product, but the big question is whether he will be given the opportunity.
Manchester City’s ability to dig deep and secure victory in the semi-final demonstrates their pedigree as an elite team. Despite their fatigue, they showed the mentality of champions. Chelsea, on the other hand, lacked the resilience and ability to get the job done when it mattered most.
The difference between the two teams was evident once again, as City moves closer to another Premier League and FA Cup double. Chelsea and Pochettino must reflect on their shortcomings and find ways to improve if they want to compete at the highest level.