Alan Pardew has praised Chelsea’s performance against Leeds but believes Manchester City will ultimately have an excessive amount of firepower in next month’s FA Cup final.
Enzo Fernandez headed home what proved to be the winner as Chelsea – led by interim manager Calum McFarlane – edged past Leeds this weekend to succeed in the ultimate for a seventeenth time within the club’s history.
The hard-fought 1-0 victory got here 24 hours after City prevailed to advance through to this 12 months’s showpiece, with a pair of late goals from Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez breaking Southampton hearts in an exhilarating finish at Wembley.
McFarlane has taken over the reins at Stamford Bridge under extremely difficult circumstances within the wake of Liam Rosenior’s dismissal after only 106 days accountable for the Blues.
The 40-year-old had also managed Chelsea as caretaker following Enzo Maresca’s sacking firstly of the 12 months, failing to select up a win from his two matches away to City and Fulham within the Premier League.
But McFarlane couldn’t hide his delight because the west London giants held firm against a late barrage from Leeds, with the Club World Cup holders aiming to lift the FA Cup for a ninth time of their history.
‘It was vital to get the win,’ McFarlane told reporters shortly after the ultimate whistle.
‘It was vital to interrupt the momentum and the shape we were in.
‘We were confident we might try this today and that changes the texture within the group.’
McFarlane added: We would like to win every game for the fans.
‘It’s not worked out in other competitions. We would like to win every game, like in any season, but it surely’s not extra motivation.’
Chelsea return to Premier League motion at home to Nottingham Forest in only over every week’s time, where they’ll look to get back to winning ways after a miserable five-match losing run under Rosenior.
A troublesome trip to reigning champions Liverpool follows that, before attentions will turn back to the cup for what guarantees to be an intriguing encounter with a rampant City side at Wembley.
Former Crystal Palace and Newcastle manager Pardew can only see one winner from this 12 months’s showpiece, though, with Pep Guardiola boasting a humiliation of riches across every position.
Asked if Chelsea have what it takes to beat City, Pardew told talkSPORT: ‘I don’t think so, no.
‘Taking a look at Manchester City against Southampton yesterday, they’re in great form, their offensive players are on fire and Pep Guardiola has got such ammunition from the bench.
‘He can change it and yesterday he began with the bench, you would argue, but they still put in some great performances.
‘Mateo Kovacic, who hasn’t played all 12 months, was absolutely terrific. They’ve still got some marvellous, marvellous players at that football club.
‘Tijjani Reijnders has amazing quality and at any time when he pulls it onto that right foot you’re considering he’s going to get a shot off. And it wouldn’t have been a surprise if he got the winner yesterday.
‘Great goals, great game, great atmosphere. By the best way, well done to the Southampton fans, everyone who turned up there, great support.
‘Manchester City fans were great, too, but they got the win. It’s a bit of bit easier once you get the win!’
Who will win this 12 months’s FA Cup?
Pardew is pleased to see a young English coach like McFarlane given the chance to check their mettle on the massive stage – but feels Chelsea were helped by an absence of oomph from Leeds in Sunday’s semi-final.
‘Calum has needed to do the rounds but he finds himself at Wembley and in a cup final,’ Pardew, who managed West Ham in two FA Cup finals, added.
‘You’ll be able to have games where you would like more out of your team and I sense that Leeds did play okay, it wasn’t like they put in a very poor performance, they’d probabilities, but there was an absence of real push.
‘It was sporadic moments from Leeds, there wasn’t an actual 10-15 minute period of, “Come on, let’s get something over the road here”, and I believe that’s what Leeds fans were wishing for.’
While Chelsea have indicated that McFarlane will remain within the role until the top of the season, the search is underway behind the scenes for Rosenior’s everlasting successor.
Andoni Iraola is one in every of quite a few high-profile names being linked with the vacant position after it was confirmed he could be leaving as Bournemouth’s head coach in the summertime.
In keeping with Pardew, the Spaniard must be deemed the very best possible candidate at Stamford Bridge given his outstanding work on the south coast during the last three years.
‘They need a big-hitter in there,’ Pardew explained.
‘That’s how I’d advise them if I used to be across the football club.
‘I might go for the very best person out of contract in the summertime and I believe that’s Andoni Iraola.’
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