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Chelsea\u2019s interim manager Calum McFarlane admitted they had to \u201cbreak the momentum\u201d of five straight Premier League defeats without scoring as they held off Leeds to reach the FA Cup final.<\/p>\n
A header in the first half from Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez proved decisive as Daniel Farke\u2019s side were frustrated by several fine saves from the Chelsea goalkeeper, Robert S\u00e1nchez. It means McFarlane, who replaced Liam Rosenior following his sacking this week, will have a chance to win Chelsea\u2019s first domestic trophy since 2018 when he takes charge of next month\u2019s final against Manchester City.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was important to break the momentum and the form that we were in,\u201d he said. \u201cThat completely changes the feel in the group and gives us confidence going into the next five games.\u201d<\/p>\n Fern\u00e1ndez was dropped by Rosenior for two matches after flirting with Real Madrid but followed up his equaliser against City in January when McFarlane was last in charge after the departure of Enzo Maresca with another goal here. \u201cI said that to him at the end \u2013 \u2018you like scoring goals at the back post\u2019 and he just laughed,\u201d added McFarlane. \u201cHe\u2019s a winner, he\u2019s got so much talent, so much fight and he\u2019s massive for this group. He was exceptional today.<\/p>\n \u201cI did it for a week before, so I knew what I was stepping into. It\u2019s easier this time because I have a relationship with the players and I\u2019ve worked with them for three or four months now. I\u2019ve been a part of the backroom staff, so I had a feel for what they needed psychologically. It\u2019s been intense.\u201d<\/p>\n S\u00e1nchez, who denied Brenden Aaronson in the first half before pulling off an even better save from Anton Stach\u2019s effort just after half-time, admitted that Chelsea\u2019s players had been desperate to put on a performance after losing their last five Premier League matches without scoring.<\/p>\n \u201cThe boys reacted in the way they should have,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve tried to keep everyone positive in training and it\u2019s the chance to be in another final.\u201d<\/p>\nQuick Guide<\/span><\/p>\n
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