In the fast-paced world of football, five days can feel like an eternity. Just moments after the final whistle at Brighton, where Chelsea's lackluster performance led to Liam Rosenior's departure, Enzo Fernandez stood before the away fans, gazing out into the void.
As the last player to leave the pitch at the Amex, even after the triumphant Brighton team, it seemed like a bold statement - a call to action for change. Fernandez had been part of the problem in that defeat, with the game passing him by as Brighton dominated Chelsea across the field. However, five days later at Wembley, with a place in the FA Cup final at stake, Fernandez seized control, delivering a stunning midfield performance that included scoring the winning goal and leading by example.
His display set the tone for a gritty, defensively disciplined show that ultimately proved too much for Leeds. This was a complete reversal of fortunes from the previous Tuesday.
Chelsea gave it their all at Wembley, a stark contrast to their first 30 minutes at Brighton, where they failed to make a single tackle. The earlier performance had been labeled 'unacceptable' by Rosenior, who had expressed his desire not to see a repeat.
His wish was granted, although he was no longer at the helm. Interim manager Calum McFarlane played a significant role in this turnaround. When questioned about the differences between the two performances, McFarlane deftly sidestepped the issue, stating that they had not reviewed the Brighton game and were focused solely on Leeds.
However, he was more than happy to praise Fernandez, who had also scored a 94th-minute equalizer for Chelsea at Man City in January, during McFarlane's first game as interim boss. Fernandez once again rose to the occasion for McFarlane. 'I told him, you seem to enjoy scoring at the back post for me,' McFarlane said, 'and he just laughed.' 'He does that really well. It's one of his biggest strengths - his timing of runs, his ability to get good distance and height on his jump, and his heading technique is excellent.
He's a winner. He has so much talent and fight, and he's crucial for this group. The best thing about Enzo is that he can do a bit of everything.
When it gets tough, you see the fight in him, driving the group on, making tackles, and fighting for every loose ball. He was exceptional today and deserved his man of the match.' McFarlane now has the opportunity to defeat Pep Guardiola in a major final on May 16, which would be a remarkable way to salvage Chelsea's season.
Chelsea had failed to score in their five-game losing streak in the Premier League, which led to Rosenior's departure, but they took just 23 minutes to find the net against Leeds. McFarlane added, 'I think it was essential to break the momentum and form that we were in.
I thought we were confident that we would do that today, and I think that completely changes the feel within the group. It gives us confidence going into the next five games.'