It was not the most thrilling final witnessed at Wembley – even the television monitors in the press box were turning themselves off and on, as if falling asleep – but Chelsea liked it that way.
They wanted to stifle the attacking might of Manchester City with Calum McFarlane bidding to do so by borrowing a 3-4-2-1 set-up – the favoured formation of a certain Xabi Alonso.
McFarlane’s version saw his wing-backs Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella dropping to form a five-man wall, and Cole Palmer helping double up on City winger Jeremy Doku.
Led by Levi Colwill – in front of the watching England manager Thomas Tuchel – Chelsea’s defenders did their jobs. It took a fabulous finish from Antoine Semenyo to tilt this final in City’s favour after 72 minutes.
Yet while they defended well, it was in attack where Chelsea ultimately faltered.
Palmer, Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez – all failed to have any form of meaningful impact in the final third and McFarlane’s side struggled with only Gusto and Cucurella on the wings.
Chelsea were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday
The Blues were solid but struggled to create many chances and Cole Palmer yet again failed to have an impact on the game
Poor decisions were made in key moments, including after a rare attack led to Chelsea winning a corner in the first half. Rather than use that as an opportunity to get the ball into the City box, they played it short and, bizarrely, sent it all the way back to their goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
When Alonso arrives – confirmation of his appointment as their next boss is imminent after an agreement was reached – one of his chief challenges will be to strike that balance. The Blues cannot go on being so blunt in attack and with Palmer having been in hiding for too long.
When Alonso led Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title in 2023-24, they conceded only 24 goals over that league season. The next nearest clubs were Stuttgart and RB Leipzig on 39.
Yet they were not simply a defensive side. Alonso also had his side scoring for fun that campaign. Only Bayern Munich grabbed more goals than Alonso’s team that term, 94 to Leverkusen’s 89.
That is what Chelsea will hope they are signing in the 44-year-old Spaniard, who will have a say in their transfers from now on. McFarlane introduced Pedro Neto, Liam Delap and Alejandro Garnacho while trailing 1-0 in this final. They were not the most inspiring substitutions.
As Chelsea chased their late equaliser, you were left thinking how even if they found it, they would have then had to play extra time with Delap and Garnacho, who have been among their worst performers this season.
Levi Colwill impressed at the back though despite having just returned from a long-term injury
Why Alonso’s appointment is bad news for Spurs
Enzo Fernandez’s challenge on Bernardo Silva was so full-blooded that the Chelsea midfielder leapt to his feet and celebrated the way he had won the ball.
Referee Darren England saw it differently. He believed Fernandez had acted dangerously enough to show him a yellow card. Some inside Wembley believed it could have warranted a red.
That would have seen him miss this Tuesday’s Premier League visit of Tottenham to Stamford Bridge, but Spurs did not receive that boost.
The Alonso news is bad timing for Roberto De Zerbi, too. His announcement could coax a better performance out of Chelsea’s players, who will know now that they are being watched by their next boss and need to start impressing.
Xabi Alonso is set to be Cheslea’s new manager and his appointment could give them a lift
Crunch time for Sanchez
Robert Sanchez wore a Petr Cech-esque helmet at Wembley due to a nasty cut on his head from when he collided with Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White less than two weeks ago.
Sanchez made several nice saves, including to stop Erling Haaland towards the end of the first half, but you do wonder what this summer holds for Chelsea’s goalkeeper.
Decisions need to be made over Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen and Mike Penders, who is currently on loan at Strasbourg from Chelsea. Alonso will now have a significant say in who stays and goes.
Robert Sanchez had a solid game but Chelsea will be making decisions on their keepers soon
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Colwill gives Tuchel World Cup headache
England manager Thomas Tuchel was at Wembley to watch Colwill after naming him in his 55-man preliminary squad that was submitted to FIFA this week – to be cut to 26 for the World Cup.
Colwill was as classy as ever at the heart of Chelsea’s back three, almost as if he had not missed the entirety of this season with an ACL injury.
Off the ball, he showed his strength while handling Haaland. On the ball, he progressed play up the pitch. He has given Tuchel a decision to make.
