EMIRATES FA CUP FINAL
EDEN HAZARD was supposedly one of the architects of Jose Mourinho’s downfall at Stamford Bridge – and he repeated the trick at Wembley. The little Belgian wizard fell out with the Special One, souring a once beautiful relationship. Whether Hazard – once famously described as a £200million asset by his boss – still bore a grudge it was difficult to tell. But he was the difference between current Blues boss Antonio Conte leaving his post in the near future with his head held high rather than having his tail between his legs. It was Hazard (left) who was fouled for the vital match-winning penalty. It was Hazard who took responsibility from the spot. It was Hazard who was the most influential outfield player. Sirens didn’t need to sound around Wembley, the sight of the pint-sized playmaker being crowded out by red shirts whenever he even smelled the ball was proof enough of the threat he posed. To mark this down as his final alone, however, would be wrong.
Hero
He might have proved the key at one end but at the other Conte had another hero in keeper Thibaut Courtois. Chelsea’s game plan relied heavily on making life as difficult as possible for Manchester United to establish any kind of momentum. They were denied space to play as blue shirts massed around the penalty area. It was a risky ploy, defending deep and allowing Mourinho’s men time to construct wave after wave of attacks. But especially in the second half, as it became increasingly evident that the clock was becoming Conte’s greatest ally in his quest to land more silverware, the organisation that has been drummed into these players was essential. The Italian had gambled big on this and there was a backlash on social media before kick-off when his line-up was announced. He concentrated instead on packing his midfield with Tiemoue Bakayoko – by no means the Chelsea fans’ favourite player – getting a start. Conte left plenty of attacking talent, including Willian, Pedro and Alvaro Morata, watching proceedings from the vantage point of the bench. It was a high-risk strategy. But, in the final reckoning, it absolutely worked for Conte. The decisive moment arrived in the 21st minute. Chelsea overturned possession and Cesc Fabregas, who has carved out a career for himself in spotting such openings, feathered a 20-yard ball along the ground to