THE FINAL WORD GOES TO CONTE
Hazard spot kick enough to deny United and win the FA Cup for Chelsea
SO Antonio Conte looks like he will depart Chelsea in the manner in which he arrived: by upstaging Jose Mourinho.
The two rivals, recently bitter enemies, embraced at the end of a final which was more notable for its first ever use of video technology than for any of the football on display.
Yet its significance lay in the result. The man who picked up the mess Mourinho had left at Stamford Bridge two years ago and managed to regenerate the team into title winners, before seemingly falling victim to the same political pressures that undid his predecessor, had one last parting shot to deliver.
In the battle of clubs with underwhelming seasons, Chelsea emerged the victor at Wembley. And a trophy can give even an unpolished campaign some lustre. A trophy makes a point and Conte was not slow to seize the opportunity. Last night he declared himself a ‘serial winner’ in what appeared to be an emotional farewell, though it is clear he will not quit. Chelsea will have to sack him.
‘After these two seasons I will always love this colour, these fans, this club,’ he said. ‘ Even if my future must be in a different way.
‘After two years the club knows me very well. If they want to continue to work with me, they know me. I can’t change. My way is always the same. And I think my past speaks very clear as a player and as a manager. You can tell what you want, but I’m a serial winner.
‘I’ve showed this today, because we found the right way to win this trophy. I’m very happy for the players, I’m very happy for our fans. At the same time I’m happy for the club. In two seasons I brought two trophies for this club.’
And if that all seemed in the past tense — a final decision will have to be made by the club this week — he at least departs with a job well done.
As for United, defeat reopens all the existential questions that dog Mourinho’s reign. That they have improved is undeniable. But just where they are heading is still unclear two years on. If they are a side constructed to win, rather than entertain, then that is an identity. But it does require a final victory. Ultimately, without that, it becomes meaningless.
Mourinho was defiant when it was suggested that his team had started the game badly — ‘You think? I disagree’ — and decisive when discussing the decision to leave out Romelu Lukaku — ‘ How can I convince a player that is not ready to play?’ Yet even Mourinho, in his moment of disillusion, would surely admire the cunning and canniness by which Conte contrived to eke out victory, with Antonio Rudiger outstanding at the back and N’Golo Kante patrolling midfield with the assiduousness that has now become customary.
Eventually, after that slow start, United were the better team. By the end they had created enough chances at least to take the game to extra time.
Principally there was Paul Pogba, heading wide from a corner in the 82nd minute when he had been afforded time and space to direct it goal-wards. But there were also fine saves from Thibaut Courtois denying Marcus Rashford in the 55th minute, Phil Jones in the 62nd minute and Rashford again in the 72nd minute.
There was a disallowed goal from Alexis Sanchez, who had strayed from an offside position to turn in that Jones chance on the rebound. That was a decision correctly given by the assistant referee and then confirmed by the video referee — which was an FA Cup final first.
But United had been undone by a lame start. Mourinho would doubtless argue they were rarely out of control. However, in a season which has witnessed the thrills of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, they were also rarely threatening. As such, they invited misfortune.
In the 22nd minute Cesc Fabregas, who was afforded the freedom of midfield, played one of those lovely, r aki ng passes, i nvit i ng Eden Hazard to accelerate. In two minds Jones ended up on the back foot, allowing Hazard to sprint away. The ensuring race between the pair was not a genuine contest.
And the moment Jones opted to close the gap with a tackle, you feared for United.
The challenge was committed yet clumsy, an open invitation to award a penalty. It was, however, not a red card because he had made a clear attempt to win the ball. As for the penalty, Hazard simply rolled it passed De Gea with a degree of contempt.
It was a breakthrough Chelsea’s game plan required. And this was a defensive performance much more akin to the 2016-17 season. Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses were flying back and forth down the wings; Kante was immense and Fabregas was a willing foil.
More surprisingly, there was Tie moue B aka yoko, looking authoritative, more like the player they thought they had signed this summer. United could muster just a Paul Pogba shot and a Jones header before half-time.
There had to be reaction. United could not surrender this meekly. Mourinho sent his team out with fresh gusto in the second half and the Rashford strike bore evidence of that.
Chelsea were retreating, happy to sit deep and conceded possession, seemingly confident in their ability to spring a surprise on the counter.
United thought they had broken through in the 62nd minute, with Rashford’s free-kick being headed
ABOVE ALL ELSE, CHELSEA MUST KEEP HAZARD Glenn Hoddle’s Verdict — Pages 106-107 MOURINHO IS TURNING UNITED INTO DINOSAURS Read Oliver Holt’s Verdict — Pages 108-109
towards goal by Jones. Courtois parried and Sanchez slid to turn the ball in but had advanced from an offside position.
Yet there was that ever-present threat of the Chelsea breakaway which could finish the game. It seemed the moment had come in the 70th minute, Kante striding towards goal and feeding Alonso.
The wing-back allowed the ball to run on to his right foot to get a better angle, yet in that crucial delay he lost all element of surprise and De Gea blocked superbly. Still, United were not safe.
Moses immediately cut the ball back and it struck the arm of Young. Again, video referee Neil Swarbrick was called upon. He clearly concluded Young’s arm was in a natural position and the ball had struck him too quickly and from such close range that it would have been impossible to move. As such, no penalty was awarded. But it was a mighty close call.
Two minutes later Rash ford was denied by Courtois as United rallied.
Lukaku could not prove decisive but certainly Pogba should have done better with arguably United’s best chance of a lifeline. In the 81st minute, a corner swung in and, given a free header to equalise, he contrived to direct the ball wide.
And if the game itself will not live long in the memory, at least the 137th playing of the world’s oldest football competition would have a technological footnote to add to the history books.