SUB-ZERO: ALEJANDRO GARNACHO AND NETO RESCUE MARESCA FROM LEAGUE ONE EMBARRASSMENT
Chelsea needed two goals from Alejandro Garnacho and one from Pedro Neto off the bench to narrowly defeat League One leaders Cardiff City 3-1.
Enzo Maresca dodged a bullet, as Chelsea avoided a shock Carabao Cup quarter-final loss to League One's Cardiff City thanks to three goals from two subs.
Alejandro Garnacho scored Chelsea's first and third goals, sandwiching one from Pedro Neto. David Turnbull's goal was actually the best of the night.
Chelsea now goes to Wednesday night's semi-final draw. Brian Barry-Murphy's Cardiff side, who are four points clear in their league, are probably a good pick for an end-of-season celebration. Jimmy's son is doing great in the Welsh capital.
It's unclear if Maresca's bosses feel the same about him, especially after his mysterious comments last week about a lack of backing.
But cup wins are important for Chelsea. Maresca's team had enough to win the battle between the former Manchester City Elite Development Squad managers.
Pep Guardiola's impact on both teams is clear. Cardiff has higher average possession stats in League One than the Club World Cup holders this season.
Cardiff likes to take risks, and their play-from-the-back style, like Pep's, helped Chelsea score first.
Maresca switched his whole lineup from Saturday's 2-0 Premier League win over Everton. This worked last season when they won the Europa Conference League.
Benoit Badiashile missed Chelsea's first chance, while Cardiff's David Turnbull forced a save from keeper Filip Jorgensen.
City's Isaak Davies was too eager and fouled Josh Acheampong, earning a yellow card. Then, after getting behind the defender on the left, his rushed shot went out.
Next, Cardiff's Calum Chambers got a yellow card before Nathan Trott made his first save around the half-hour mark from a tight angle from Marc Guiu.
BBM's team quickly responded, and Jorgensen had to stop a cross from Davies that Moises Caicedo deflected. The half ended with Caicedo getting a yellow card for sarcastically clapping the referee.
Maresca made two changes for the second half, bringing on Joao Pedro and Alejandro Garnacho for Guiu and Tyrique George. Garnacho immediately had a chance after Chambers lost the ball, but Trott saved it.
Cardiff replaced Callum Robinson and Davies with Salech and Chris Willock.
But disaster hit as Dylan Lawlor tried to play out from the back, and his pass was intercepted by Facundo Buonanotte, who set up Garnacho to score past Trott.
That gift in the 57th minute boosted Chelsea.
Joel Bagan almost scored an own goal, but Cardiff then equalised with Turnbull's diving header in the 75th minute. Perry Ng crossed from the right, and Turnbull headed it in.
The home fans cheered, but Cardiff soon needed Trott to deny Pedro from close range after City gave the ball away again.
The former West Ham keeper was unlucky when Neto won it for Chelsea in the 82nd minute with a low shot that deflected off Bagan.
Pedro then set up Garnacho to score again in added time.
LIAM ROSENIOR’S "DETAILED TALKS" WITH CHELSEA LEADERSHIP REVEAL AGGRESSIVE SUMMER TRANSFER STRATEGY
Liam Rosenior confirms no Chelsea players want to leave, including Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, despite UCL exit.
Liam Rosenior is currently engaged in thorough discussions with Chelsea’s leadership about their plans for the summer transfer window. Interestingly, none of the players has approached him expressing a desire to leave.
After Chelsea’s exit from the Champions League last-16 against Paris Saint-Germain, speculation swirled around Enzo Fernandez’s future, while names like Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo have also been linked with moves away since Rosenior took charge in January. Ahead of their trip to Everton, Rosenior addressed questions about possible departures if the team misses out on Europe’s top competition again. He also spoke about the ongoing efforts to bring new players in.
“We're having very detailed talks about where we need to strengthen,” he said, referring to conversations with the sporting director team, headed by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. “I’ve shared my thoughts on what’s needed, and we’re mostly aligned on the approach, which is encouraging. But the priority is also handling the present properly. It’s crucial to be in a good spot now. Planning is important, but so is winning in the moment. That’s why I’m here, and I’m having positive discussions with ownership and the sporting directors about it.”
Rosenior emphasised that key players like Enzo Fernández want to remain at Chelsea. After Fernandez’s recent interview with ESPN Argentina, where he was noncommittal about his future following the heavy loss to PSG, Rosenior reached out to him personally.
“Our plans don’t hinge solely on qualifying for the Champions League; there are many variables,” Rosenior explained. “We need to make the best of the situation we’re in and stay as strong as possible. I maintain a close relationship with the players; we talk beyond football about their families and their lives. I’m particularly close with Enzo and the others. Since I arrived, no one has told me they want to leave in the summer. The focus is really on improving together as a team and figuring out what it takes to win right now.”
When asked specifically if that applies to Fernandez, Palmer, and Caicedo, Rosenior was clear: “They love it here.”
WHY ENZO FERNANDEZ REFUSES TO COMMIT TO CHELSEA’S FUTURE PROJECT
Enzo Fernandez has sparked Chelsea exit fears after refusing to commit to his future following a 2-8 defeat to PSG.
Chelsea fans barely had time to process a brutal 8-2 Champions League thrashing by PSG on Tuesday when vice-captain Enzo Fernandez stirred things up even more. ESPN Argentina asked him about his future, and instead of assurance, Fernandez left everyone guessing about whether he’d still be at Stamford Bridge next season.
His answer? “I don’t know. There are eight games left, and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup, and then we’ll see.” Not exactly what supporters needed to hear after a rough night. Honestly, Enzo, now’s probably not the best time for uncertainty.
People have been gossiping about Fernandez’s next move for a while now. Real Madrid and PSG keep cropping up as possible destinations, despite Chelsea sources insisting they won’t sell him. He’s locked into a contract until 2032, but if he pushes for an exit, who knows if that changes.
Fernandez holds a hefty price tag of £107 million; when he arrived in January 2023, it was a British record at the time. He’s backed it up this season, stacking up 12 goals, 6 assists, and playing more minutes than anyone else on the squad.
Still, Chelsea has been searching for someone who can play that No. 10 role where Fernandez has spent most of the season. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is on their wishlist, though nothing’s happened yet. Rogers, 23 and once a Manchester City academy kid, has been lighting it up at Villa lately. He signed a contract extension in November, but rumours about his future just won’t die.
Rogers is definitely on Chelsea’s radar. If Fernandez leaves this summer, and really, that’s still wide open; Rogers could be a target.
You can expect Chelsea to be busy in the market soon. They need a centre-back after missing out on Jeremy Jacquet in January. Douglas Luiz was briefly considered but wound up at Villa, so midfield is still in the mix. Plus, given their attacking troubles this season, they’ll be looking to upgrade up front too.
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