Chelsea captain Enzo Fernandez was trying to shout over to his interim manager Calum McFarlane while Leeds United were threatening a second-half comeback, but they could not hear one another over the 82,000-odd souls inside Wembley Stadium.
Then a lightbulb appeared to flash above Fernandez’s head as the Argentinian turned and signalled to Chelsea’s goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. The Spaniard responded by dropping down injured in his box and away from the ball, and there it was – a timely time-out for Fernandez and McFarlane to have their tactical natter by the touchline.
All of Chelsea’s players approached the technical area for a handy team-talk, and, naturally, the visitors were angered by what they saw as a brazen attempt at breaking their stride.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke and his fellow coaches protested to the match officials. The players copied. Captain Ethan Ampadu exchanged words with McFarlane, who told him to ‘go away’ in no uncertain terms. ‘You cheating b******s,’ sang the Leeds supporters en masse.
By some miracle, Sanchez was soon back on his feet for Chelsea, and with that, the momentum that Leeds had been building while trailing 1-0 was no more.
Call it cheating, as Leeds did. Call it clever, as Chelsea might. Call it what you will.
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez went down near the end at Leeds to disrupt their stride
Calum McFarlane injected a new streetwise side into Chelsea which we haven’t been seeing
It was something we have not seen from Chelsea before, and there was an overall streetwise side to McFarlane’s players as they practically embraced the role of the baddies at Wembley. They knew Leeds’ supporters did not like them, and they did not care. When Fernandez scored, he celebrated with a knee-slide in front of the opposition fans. When full-time arrived, Malo Gusto apparently rubbed it in by gesturing the scoreline.
They embraced every bit of hatred coming their way, including as their players appeared to use any and all opportunities to eat up seconds, usually by rolling around as if injured, occasionally resembling fish flopping out of water. An FA Cup bloodbath from 1970, it was not. This was a modern match with advantages gained by hook or by crook.
Leeds wanted a contest, but they were rarely allowed to compete in one by a gritty Chelsea, and that in turn helped quieten down a fanbase who were bang up for this from the moment they stepped off the London Underground at Wembley Park.
McFarlane repays faith
If the reports are to be believed, Liam Rosenior will receive millions in compensation for being sacked by Chelsea after 106 days of work. He might not need us offering him a penny for his thoughts, therefore, but we would like them, all the same.
After weeks of Chelsea’s players coming dangerously close to being placed on wanted posters, they turned up at Wembley and won, and did so with passion suddenly injected into their performance. They increased their intensity. They were decisive in their duels. They passed with purpose. After their 3-0 beating in Brighton – a loss in which they failed to register a single shot on target – here they showed if you shoot, you can score.
Chelsea had options other than McFarlane, who was an assistant to Rosenior. There was John Terry, obviously, but he comes with baggage alongside his coaching badges. There was Roberto Di Matteo, who won the 2012 Champions League as interim once upon a time, and is a club ambassador. There was Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, another ambassador.
Those above at Chelsea placed their trust in McFarlane, and he rewarded that faith with this first win. He is a hard man to coax a smile out of, McFarlane. Perhaps if Chelsea go on to win the FA Cup – to earn themselves a guaranteed ticket to the Europa League and their 38-year-old interim a winner’s medal before he even has an UEFA Pro Licence – then he will flash us one.
Blues shut up shop
For the first time in 99 days, Chelsea stopped a Premier League side from scoring against them in a game. Their last such clean sheet was in a 2-0 win over Brentford on January 17.
That included McFarlane bringing Tosin Adarabioyo into his starting line-up – a decision which did not go down well initially among Blues’ supporters. They are not the 28-year-old free transfer’s biggest fans, yet he was selected over Wesley Fofana, whose absence was telling.
Fofana, who cost £70million from Leicester in 2022, was an unused substitute after being hooked at half-time in that rotten performance at Brighton. He is one of a few players whose futures are in question as we approach a summer window where Chelsea appear to require another reset.
Chelsea’s £60million bargain
For all of Chelsea’s poor signings, there is one from last summer whose worth cannot be questioned in Joao Pedro. He is their £60million bargain from Brighton.
Fernandez was named man of the match on television – that award often goes to the goalscorer – but Chelsea’s striker was their difference-maker. Returning from his thigh injury, he was an immediate and important focal point up front for Chelsea. He may not look like your traditional lump up top, but Chelsea’s back line knew when they hit a long ball towards him, there was a good chance he would bring it under his spell.
It was Joao Pedro who won the ball in the build-up to the only goal in this game. He gave it to Pedro Neto, who crossed for Fernandez’s header.
