London: Desperate to end a dismal season on a high note, troubled Chelsea manager Antonio Conte needs Eden Hazard to ride to his rescue in Sunday’s FA Cup final against Manchester United.
Conte’s side have been rocked by their failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League after they finished fifth in the Premier League. With Conte reportedly on the verge of leaving following his feud with the club’s hierarchy over transfers, there is a sense Chelsea in turmoil.
Just 12 months ago, Chelsea swaggered into the FA Cup final as the newly crowned Premier League champions following Conte’s dazzling debut season, but were defeated 1-2 by Arsenal that left a painful sting.
“You don’t want to be on the back of losing two FA Cup finals in a row,” Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas said, Friday. “Last year we didn’t play well. We have this regret in our head and we want to make it right this time for sure.”
Against that troubled backdrop, it would be a fitting coda to Conte’s woes if United manager Jose Mourinho was the man to shove his rival towards the exit door.
Showing signs of cracking under the strain of Chelsea’s turbulent season, Conte has been drawn into a series of petty and increasingly bitter exchanges with former Chelsea boss Mourinho.
Now Chelsea’s hopes of winning the Cup for the first time since 2012 lie largely with Belgium playmaker Hazard.
With Hazard unable to reach the heights he scaled during last season’s Premier League title-winning run, the Blues have spluttered badly up front. The 27-year-old isn’t the only one to blame as Alvaro Morata, Willian and Pedro have also been inconsistent, but Hazard is Chelsea’s creative lynchpin.
Fabregas has no doubt that a motivated Hazard can see off the Red Devils. “He’s a fantastic player. When he’s on his day he can be unstoppable.”
United, bidding to join Arsenal with a record-equalling 13th FA Cup victory, have fared better than Chelsea after securing a second place finish in the League. However, they were 19 points behind winners Manchester City.
United defender Phil Jones however, insisted Thursday that winning the third major trophy of Mourinho’s reign would make this season a step in the right direction.
“I really don’t think we’re far away. We’ll always have our critics because we’re Man United, but it shows that we’re moving in the right direction under him Mourinho,” Jones said.
“I think finishing second and winning the FA Cup probably would be satisfactory, but we always want to win more,” he added.