Chelsea joins Arsenal in the FA Cup finals after ousting Manchester United

Manchester United and Spain’s number one choice goalie, David de Gea, who is increasingly error-prone was at fault twice as Chelsea ended Manchester United’s long unbeaten run with a 3-1 win at Wembley to book their place in the FA Cup final against Arsenal.

United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, left out his usual FA Cup keeper Sergio Romero to keep faith with De Gea, but he repaid the faith with two horrendous errors either side of half-time to gift Chelsea two goals.

Chelsea was then handed a third when Maguire diverted a cross past De Gea at his near post and, although Bruno Fernandes converted United’s 19th penalty of the season. It was nothing more than a consolation as the Blues – who had lost their three previous matches with United this season – cruised into the final, which takes place on 1 August.

De Gea’s latest performance will fuel debate for the coming months over his status as undisputed No 1 but more immediately United – who hadn’t lost in 19 – must now bounce back from the disappointment to try to secure a top-four finish before turning their attentions to the Europa League. Chelsea, meanwhile, can now look forward to competing for a ninth FA Cup – and adding to the four Frank Lampard picked up as a player.

United spirits were on a high going into this semi-final game with their long unbeaten run and with the sense that Solskjaer was starting to get to grips with the big rebuilding job.

That continues and United are still in decent shape to reach next season’s Champions League, either via the Premier League or Europa League, but this was a savage setback.

And the main culprit was De Gea, who gives the impression of a goalkeeper either in permanent decline or going through a very long slump.

De Gea changed the face of this FA Cup semi-final with those mistakes, allowing Chelsea to transform their dominance into a two-goal lead.

Fernandes was overpowered in midfield and United had no punch in attack, where Solskjaer decided to leave the potency of Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood on the bench, along with Paul Pogba.

In defence they were also vulnerable, Victor Lindelof losing Giroud too easily for Chelsea’s opener and captain Maguire ending any hopes with that own goal.

Stats and facts from the match

• Chelsea have reached their 14th FA Cup final; indeed, only Arsenal (21 including 2019-20) and Manchester United (20) have made the final on more occasions than the Blues.
• Manchester United have been eliminated from the FA Cup by Chelsea for the sixth time (including three of the last four seasons) – only Arsenal (7) have knocked the Red Devils out of the competition on more occasions.
• This was Chelsea’s first victory against Manchester United since the 2018 FA Cup final – the Blues were winless in six matches across all competitions against the Red Devils prior to today (D2 L4).
• Chelsea are the first side to beat Manchester United since Burnley in the Premier League back in January, ending United’s 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
• Since his debut in the FA Cup in January 2013, Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud has scored 16 goals in the competition (13 for Arsenal & 3 for Chelsea) – only Sergio Aguero (19) has netted more in this period.
• Mason Mount became the first Englishman to score for Chelsea at Wembley Stadium since John Terry in the 2015 League Cup final versus Tottenham.
• No player has scored more goals in all competitions for Frank Lampard in his managerial career than Mason Mount (18 – level with Harry Wilson).
• Since his Manchester United debut in February, no Premier League player has been involved in more goals across all competitions than Bruno Fernandes (17 – 9 goals & 8 assists).