Eden Hazard fired Chelsea to FA Cup glory against Manchester United as Antonio Conte’s expected farewell ended with a memorable 1-0 triumph against old foe Jose Mourinho.
The 137th FA Cup final – and first utilising a video assistant referee – was a cagey affair, settled from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after the outstanding Belgium forward was felled by England defender Phil Jones.
Here are the Wembley talking points:
CONTE’S TIME WILL COME AGAIN
If this is to be the last time Chelsea are led out by Conte, he departs with a black mark erased on his sterling resume.
Excluding a pair of Supercoppa Italiana’s won at Juventus, all five previous major honours had come in league competition. Cup tournaments had not been kind to the celebrated 48-year-old.
A timely fillip then, if he is to shortly become the eighth permanent manager – and 14th overall – jettisoned in the 15 years of Roman Abramovich’s ownership. That’s what failure to make the Champions League will do.
After the joy of 2016/17, Conte just about deserved this moment in the Wembley sunshine. No matter how fractious and trying nearly every moment has been since Premier League glory was followed by a blunt text to Spain striker Diego Costa and frequent complaints about recruitment.
This temperament might have caused Paris Saint-Germain to look elsewhere, despite his probable availability. Or the attrition that defined this unsightly showpiece, reminiscent of 2006/07’s nadir between these sides.
But he inherited a rabble after Euro 2016. A pair of major trophies and win percentage between permanent hires in the Abramovich era only bettered in Mourinho’s first stint in west London stand as major accolades.
He will succeed again, elsewhere.
JOSE’S MISTAKES, NOT JONES’
The watching Wembley crowd witnessed a train crash in slow motion.
From the moment Hazard got a yard on the leaden-footed Jones, impending disaster for United was a given. That the spot-kick came in such clumsy fashion was of no surprise for the fans who have watched the defender in action, when fit, since his 2011 arrival from Blackburn Rovers.
Like all accident investigations, the cause was found to be utterly preventable – and predictable.
Thrusting Jones in from the cold was a disaster waiting to happen. This was the defining mistake from a match to forget for Mourinho.
Rhythm is of vital importance for defenders who play on adrenaline like Jones. Lose it as he done through nearly 30 periods of inactivity when representing the Red Devils, and cumbersome decisions occur to slam into Hazard.
But this wasn’t the only slovenly aspect. United looked clueless for the first hour as Chelsea ceded possession and denied a lavishly assembled squad the opportunity to counter-attack.
The concept of fast, one or two-touch football to break through the Blues’ blocks of defence was anathema to the Premier League runners-up. Hooking England pair Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard seconds after they created their side’s best chance summed up the confused message.
Mourinho’s miserly methods will now be in sharp focus throughout a long summer ahead.
HAZE IS CLEARING FOR HAZARD
A gauntlet has been laid down to Chelsea.
Players of true greatness can follow veiled midweek threats about their future with match-winning performances.
Hazard’s penalty, borne of a faultless technique that combines calm and confidence, moved him onto 17 goals for the campaign – his second-most productive.
This is some achievement when the dysfunction and depression that inflicted the Blues, at various spells, is considered.
Hazard played the countering game perfectly at Wembley. But this isn’t his dream.
When Conte – as expected – leaves, players and a head coach must be brought in to make the Belgium ace smile again. His exit cannot be countenanced.