Chelsea will step onto the Wembley pitch for the FA Cup final without a permanent manager, a situation that has become the defining narrative of a season marked by upheaval.
The absence of a long‑term coach reflects a deeper rift between the club’s new ownership group, led by Behdad Eghbali and Clearlake Capital, and a fanbase that has taken to the streets to voice its discontent.
Among the names floated for the vacant post are Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva and Xabi Alonso, while interim coach Calum McFarlane becomes the first Englishman to guide the side into an FA Cup final since Frank Lampard.
The road to Wembley
A victory would guarantee a Europa League spot, but the club’s ambitions stretch beyond a single trophy; securing European competition is seen as a stepping stone toward the stability that Arsenal and Liverpool have achieved.
Financially, Chelsea operates under strict UEFA sanctions that have limited spending, even as the club has already invested more than £1.6 billion in a squad of young talent, including Reece James, Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer, who have all recently penned new contracts.
The club’s recent history also includes a string of interim managers who have delivered silverware, from Guus Hiddink to Roberto Di Matteo, and the lingering question of whether a short‑term solution can finally bring the consistency that the board seeks.