Chelsea did not win this weekend. But they did not lose either, ending a six-game streak in the Premier League in the process. There were other things to be encouraged by as well. Firstly, the Blues scored for the third game running. They were also the better team in the eyes of many. Players like Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo put in good performances. Levi Colwill looked excellent despite making his first start since his ACL injury in pre-season.
Perhaps most importantly, for the first time in the Premier League this season, Chelsea outran their opponents. All of this puts them in good standing going into the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
There is another piece of good news ahead of that game. It looks like Calum McFarlane is going to have some options available on the flanks next weekend.
Both Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto have missed Chelsea’s last two games as a result of injuries picked up in training. As a result, there were doubts about their status for the FA Cup final. There is a positive update on that situation.
Garnacho and Neto fitness update before FA Cup final
McFarlane said when asked about the status of Garnacho and Neto for the FA Cup final against Man City (via The Standard):
“Yeah, we are very hopefu.
“You have to take these things day by day. We’re hoping that they’ll be available, but we don’t know at this moment in time.
“They’re going to get back into training. We’ll see how they feel, see how it looks. So, fingers crossed.”
Of course, both Garnacho and Neto have faced their fair share of criticism this season. But it is always better to have options than nothing at all.
Just look at the Chelsea bench in these last couple of games. They had nothing to offer going forward. And so, McFarlane did not have anything up his sleeve, if he needed to change the game with his substitutes in the second half, or even earlier.
Chelsea need to win the FA Cup final vs Manchester City
Chelsea’s options on the wings have been their biggest worry in the last few games. Estevao, Jamie Gittens and Jesse Derry are all expected to be out for the rest of the season.
Fortunately, it looks like Garnacho and Neto could be available to face Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Whether they will make their presence felt or not remains to be seen.
In many ways, it could be the only game left this season that has any consequence for Chelsea. So, let’s hope that they put their best foot forward and get a result, lift some silverware and finish the campaign on a high.
