Would FA Cup win paper over the cracks for Chelsea?

Former head coach Enzo Maresca left after a falling out with the hierarchy on New Year's Day, with many believing he has been lined up to succeed Pep Guardiola at City should he depart.

Maresca's replacement, Liam Rosenior, was hired from partner club Strasbourg but lasted less than four months. Interim head coach Calum McFarlane is the first Englishman to lead a team into an FA Cup final since Frank Lampard did so with Chelsea in 2020.

McFarlane earned a point in a 1-1 draw at Etihad Stadium in January in his first experience of leading a senior side, but Guardiola's team remain firm favourites.

A win on Saturday would not only deliver Chelsea their first domestic trophy since 2018, but, even amid any celebration, would be unlikely to quell supporter anger at Stamford Bridge.

Protests and decline are setting in

Fans have protested against BlueCo this season [Getty Images]

Not A Project CFC, a growing protest movement, has announced a march up Wembley Way at 13:30 BST before the match. It will feature a large banner focusing "not only on BlueCo's ownership but also on the club's sporting directors".

Three days later, during Chelsea's final home match of the season against Tottenham, supporters plan to turn their backs on the action in the 22nd minute - a reference to 2022, the year BlueCo bought the club.

The group said the protest was "an attempt to send a public message that we have no faith in the current ownership and the direction the club is heading".

It added that the demonstrations would not stop simply because Chelsea are set to appoint their sixth permanent manager, and frustration among supporters centres on footballing issues.

These include what they see as an underwhelming return on spending of more than £1.6bn on predominantly young players, with calls for accountability from the five sporting directors who have led recruitment.

The movement is separate from the Chelsea Supporters' Trust, but the trust has also offered more measured criticism of the club in recent weeks, while focusing its efforts on securing a fairer ticketing policy.

Chelsea insist they are listening and that accountability is built into their system.

There is anger within the club at Chelsea's slide down the table, which is partly attributed to Maresca surprising officials by leaving midway through the campaign, a development that made the decision to recruit Rosenior more appealing.

Unlike Maresca, Rosenior departed on good terms but, having lost the backing of parts of the dressing room, it was felt an interim appointment such as McFarlane offered a better chance of success in both the FA Cup and the Premier League.

The club say they are in a "period of self-reflection", but are keen to point out they have not deviated from their aim of building a winning team or seeking greater "stability" in the head coach role.

Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali acknowledges the club "haven't done [that] right yet" when picking a head coach and will "tweak" their transfer policy to sign more experienced players.

Player power and a broader identity crisis

Enzo Fernandez was left out of Chelsea's squad for two matches after Liam Rosenior said he crossed a line [Getty Images]

Rosenior had tried to stamp his authority and improve the culture by dropping players like Enzo Fernandez after his comments about a move to Madrid - while criticism of the project has also come from Marc Cucurella.

However, the Fernandez decision had little positive impact and occurred during a historic sequence of six defeats in a row without scoring - Chelsea's worst run in 114 years.

Yet, Reece James and Moises Caicedo have both recently signed new contracts, while Cole Palmer has denied suggestions he is seeking a move to Manchester United.

Joao Pedro is also being linked with a move to Barcelona but is deemed not for sale and said he is "very happy" at the club when speaking to BBC Sport this week.

In a separate interview with UK newspapers before the final, Romeo Lavia says criticism that the players downed tools was "tough to hear" and the squad have seen criticism about their culture and lack of leadership.

Joao Pedro, who has emerged as one of the leaders despite joining in the summer, added: "In the difficult moment you want to see who who wants to win, who want to improve. We have had a tough moment in the Premier League.

"I spoke with everyone here, especially with Reece. We need to change. We need to do something as players. We have conversations between us and everyone is very committed to improve and put Chelsea where it deserves."

Chelsea have not beaten Man City since the 2021 Champions League final, when the club was still owned by Roman Abramovich. City's 13-game unbeaten run in all competitions against them, including 10 wins, is one Chelsea have not endured since before Abramovich transformed the club following his takeover in 2003.

However, Chelsea were already in decline by the time BlueCo took control, having become the first team in English football history under Abramovich to lose three successive FA Cup finals, while also losing six consecutive domestic cup finals.

All of this feeds into a broader identity crisis, with supporters yearning for a return to the early Abramovich era, but experiencing similar managerial turnover under the American ownership - without the same consistent success.

An interim springboard for success?

Interim managers have won major honours before. Guus Hiddink lifted the FA Cup in 2009, Roberto di Matteo led Chelsea to their first Champions League title in 2012, and Rafa Benitez followed a year later by winning the Europa League.

Chelsea are a club that have often thrived amid chaos, while other clubs have failed to translate more stable leadership into trophies.

"Well, we just won two trophies last year, so, you know, it kind of depends - a rough patch for whom?" fellow Clearlake co-founder Jose Feliciano told Bloomberg.

"Arsenal hasn't won in 20 years, as far as I have checked - or maybe they've won something - but anyway, we have just won two trophies."

Still, Chelsea are attempting to wean themselves off chaos and into the stability seen at Arsenal or previously at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp.

They have five sporting directors, a squad built around young players on long-term contracts, and are still searching for a head coach to bring coherence to the project.

Asked whether the protests have a hint of entitlement, Jacob from Not A Project CFC said: "There's a bigger disconnect across the fanbase than I can remember in over 30 years. Nothing has been done to bridge that gap.

"Some may call us entitled. Yes, we've had things to cheer about - like a couple of trophies over the summer - but that papered over cracks. They had a platform to move forward but took us further back.

"We have standards built over the last 20 years and they haven't been met."

Winning the FA Cup would turn down the noise, secure European qualification and offer bragging rights - but many of the deeper cracks will likely take years to fix.

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