Chelsea vs Leeds United; The FA Cup Semi-Final
Chelsea vs Leeds United. The FA Cup Semi-Final.
Wembley StadiumAttendance82,542.
Chelsea 1-0 Leeds: Enzo Fernandez heads Blues into FA Cup final just days after Liam Rosenior's exit
Match report from Wembley as Chelsea beat Leeds thanks to Enzo Fernandez header to set up FA Cup final with Man City on May 16; Blues' victory comes just four days on from head coach Liam Rosenior leaving, with interim boss Calum McFarlane set for showdown with Pep Guardiola
Sunday 26 April 2026 18:40, UK
Chelsea immediately returned to winning ways after Liam Rosenior's exit, booking a FA Cup final clash with Man City with a 1-0 victory over Leeds at Wembley.
Rosenior slammed his players for an "unacceptable" performance in their 3-0 defeat at Brighton on Tuesday which ultimately ended his tenure a day later. But they were transformed in this semi-final on Sunday, managing the big-stage occasion with authority.
Incredibly, interim boss Calum McFarlane now has the opportunity to beat Pep Guardiola in a major final on May 16. What a way that would be to save Chelsea's season.
Chelsea failed to score in the five-game losing streak in the Premier League which cost Rosenior but it took them just 23 minutes to hit the net against Leeds.
Typically, it was Enzo Fernandez - left out for two games this month by Rosenior after comments about a potential summer move away from Chelsea - who ended the drought.
The Argentina international, wearing the captain's armband, had looked like a man on a mission from the first whistle and expertly headed in Pedro Neto's cross to give Chelsea the lead.
There had been big chances at both ends before then, with Robert Sanchez sticking out his right foot to brilliantly stop Brenden Aaronson converting from Dominic Calvert-Lewin's fine flick through, while Joao Pedro blasted against the near post from a Fernandez pass moments before the opener.
Leeds tried to open up the contest further in the second half, switching to a back four, but after Sanchez made another impressive stop to keep out a rocket from sub Anton Stach, Chelsea set about disrupting the rhythm.
One incident in particular had Leeds fans raging. Sanchez went down asking for treatment, allowing McFarlane to issue instructions to Fernandez. Sanchez, unsurprisingly, was fine to continue.
The game management from Chelsea limited Leeds' prospects of forcing a late equaliser and ended their seven-game unbeaten streak. They must now quickly turn their attentions back to the Premier League relegation battle.
While they have been focused on the cup this weekend, Leeds' gap to the bottom three has closed to six points. They host relegated Burnley on Friday.
Chelsea still have work to do in the league, too. They must keep themselves in the hunt for Champions League qualification. But a tumultuous season could yet still end with silverware back here at Wembley next month.
McFarlane: This win changes the mood in the group
Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane:
"It was important to get the win. It was important to break the momentum and the form we were in. We were confident that we would do that today, and I think that completely changes the feel within the group. I think that was probably more important and gives us confidence going into the next five games."
On reaching the FA Cup final as interim boss:
"You don't even have time to focus on it. You don't take in the fact that you're playing at Wembley, you're just solely focused on making sure the team's performance is at the highest level so you don't have time to take that all in. Maybe [it will] at the end of the season. It's an unbelievable experience for me, but there's so much that's coming thick and fast that you don't even have time to take it all in, in honesty."
Farke: We were better side - but also nervous
Leeds boss Daniel Farke:
"We come away disappointed because we gave our supporters so much to dream about and would have loved to let them dream a bit longer. After a loss and a tight game, you're always a bit disappointed. Congratulations to Chelsea. It could have gone into both directions. I just saw the statistics in terms of expected goals, shots, shots on target, big chances missed. We were the better side.
"But it's also fair to say that I think we're not at our free-flowing best in the first half. We had losses of the ball in possession, were sometimes even a bit clumsy in the build-up, and you could tell that players were today, perhaps even a bit nervous, so much was made out of this game, and it's also not that these players are used to play in front of 90,000 on Champions League level once a week.
"So it was a big, huge game and perhaps they were a bit too nervous in order to be at their very best level. It was not the case that we were played out of the park."
On refocusing on the Premier League relegation battle:
"We don't dwell on this loss. We had nothing to lose today, just a lot to win. We have our supporters and club so much to be proud of. It's a testament of how well the players have done. From tomorrow we concentrate on our bread and butter."
Farke declines to talk about suggestion of tactical time out:
"I've spoken about this topic this season. After a loss I want to show some class. It would just be judged as excuses."
