Chelsea seem to be cruising to the Premier League title under Antonio Conte, and on Saturday eased their way into the FA Cup quarterfinals with a win against Wolves. There’s still plenty of big names in the competition, including Manchester United, who Chelsea will play in the quarters, Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal. But can any of them stop Conte’s side? In our weekly roundtable, FanSided’s soccer staff share their reactions.
Chelsea will win the Cup
Peter Johnstone, @9PniJ2
After a horrible title defense in 2015-16, Chelsea have surpassed all expectations under Antonio Conte this season, and are currently well out in front in the Premier League title race.
This weekend, the FA Cup gave Chelsea a different kind of test, as they traveled to face Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolves knocked out Liverpool and Stoke in the previous two rounds, so this had the potential to be a difficult game for Chelsea. It was, for a while. The Blues had to withstand some early pressure from Wolves, but eventually, as they always seem to do under Conte, they found a way to win.
So the question is: can anyone stop Chelsea winning the FA Cup? No. In three FA Cup ties, Chelsea have scored 10 goals and conceded just one. Conte has made lineup changes, but this hasn’t affected the fluidity of his team’s performances. When we compare this to the other Premier League sides left in the tournament, it’s hard to envision a name on the trophy other than Chelsea’s come May.
The quarterfinal draw has put the Blues against the holders, Manchester United. The Red Devils scraped into the quarters with a 2-1 victory over Blackburn. Jose Mourinho stated before that match he wasn’t going to “throw away” this FA Cup game like he had done as manager of Chelsea in the past. The Portuguese coach stayed true to his word, and he’ll now be relishing a return to Stamford Bridge. But the odds are not in his side’s favor. Earlier on in the season, United were dismantled by Chelsea in a 4-0 hammering and, although a similar scoreline is unlikely, it’s hard to see anything else but a victory for Conte’s team.
Team is the important word there. Chelsea have played brilliantly as a group season. Diego Costa and Eden Hazard might be the difference makers at times but the way each player works for the next is what has gotten the Blues to where they are. The same can’t be said for Manchester United, who have relied heavily on performances from individuals. United would be nowhere without the goals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic or the inspired play of Juan Mata. Those individuals will be tied down by a well drilled Chelsea side who will advance to the semifinals.
Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal are the three other sides that could challenge Chelsea for the FA Cup. Manchester City and Arsenal still need to get past Huddersfield and Sutton, respectively, while Spurs eased into the quarters with a victory over Fulham. All of these sides have struggled in the Cup so far. Arsenal scraped past Preston in the fourth round, Tottenham almost fell to Wycombe Wanderers and Manchester City only managed a draw away at Huddersfield.
Arsenal and Tottenham are two of the only sides to outplay Chelsea this season, but Conte has also led his side to victory against both. The north London clubs have European commitments too — something Chelsea haven’t had to worry about all season. It’s unlikely Arsenal will have to worry about the Champions League much longer, but it’s still another game they have to think about.
Manchester City are most likely candidates to beat Chelsea in this year’s competition, but the Citizens also have European commitments and will have high hopes of going far in the Champions League, which could pull focus from an FA Cup tie.
The great difference between Chelsea and all of these sides is consistency. Throughout the year, or at least since the switch to three at the back at the end of September, the Blues have played the same way and managed to win games by doing so. That’s unlikely to stop now, and Conte’s side will be celebrating a league and Cup double at the end of the season.
Chelsea won’t win the Cup
James Dudko, @JamesDudko
So Chelsea get another crack at former manager Jose Mourinho, after the Blues drew Manchester United in the FA Cup quarterfinal. On the face of it, this should be a dream draw for the Premier League’s leaders.
They have the confidence from hammering Mourinho’s men 4-0 in the league at Stamford Bridge back in October. Conte should also welcome the chance to shut Mourinho up after the Portuguese has had way too much to say about Chelsea recently.
More important than bragging rights between two boisterous managers, though, Chelsea know if they send United packing they’ll be one step closer to securing a league and Cup double, a distinction still rightly lauded in the English game, even though the FA Cup ain’t what it used to be.
It’s also a distinction Chelsea have only achieved once in their history, in 2009-10, when Carlo Ancelotti gave mega-rich owner Roman Abramovich the attacking pyrotechnics he’s always dreamed about.
So why aren’t Chelsea gong to win another double? The Blues will take the league thanks to a 10-point cushion at the top of the table, but the Cup will elude Conte.
For one thing, this isn’t the same United side Chelsea faced in October. Since then, Mourinho’s Red Devils have married free-flowing soccer with defensive resolve. United are attacking at pace with intuition and daring, while their defending is beginning to resemble the uncompromising, roughhouse style Mourinho’s Chelsea sides used to be known for.
Mourinho may have lost the league battle, but he has made a habit of winning in the cups. Consider his rivalry with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. The Special One can’t buy a league win (try as he might) against the ex-Barca chief, but he’s still sent him packing from cup tournaments in both Spain and England.
Of course, Chelsea and Conte needn’t fear a rejuvenated United too much. A side with athleticism in defense, midfield power and a cogent and ruthlessly efficient attack doesn’t fear much.
The list of players starring for the Blues makes for ominous reading for opponents in two competitions. Diego Costa, Pedro and Eden Hazard are tearing defenses apart, Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante own the middle of any park, while Willian and Cesc Fabregas are awesome aces up Conte’s sleeve.
The problem for Chelsea is there isn’t much else behind this core group. The real reason the Blues won’t win the Cup even if they get past United is their supporting cast isn’t strong enough to support a team going after dual trophies.
If there’s no Costa, Michy Batshuayi is the next man up to lead the line. The same Batshuayi who has barely resembled a striker since signing from Marseille last summer.
If the midfield needs rotating, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Nathaniel Chalobah come into the fold and try to act like stars. But the role is too big for either. When the three-man defense needs refreshing, Kurt Zouma is called upon, but he’s not long removed from a serious knee injury. Meanwhile, Nathan Ake is back from a loan spell with Bournemouth.
Chelsea can get away with mixing in their fringe players for some rounds of the Cup. It worked in the fifth round against Wolverhampton Wanderers, when Zouma, Ake and Chalobah all featured. Yet Conte’s other selections spoke volumes about the lack of strength in depth of his squad.
The decision to start Costa, when the opportunity was ideal to rest Chelsea’s main man, said everything about Conte’s lack of confidence in Batshuayi. Even against Championship opposition, Conte still needed his star power.
Weakening the core might have worked against Wolves, although the game was a lot closer than the 2-0 scoreline suggested. But a Chelsea Cup lineup will struggle against United, just as it would struggle against Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham, the remaining big guns still likely to be in the mix come the semifinal draw.
The league is Conte’s to lose, but the double will be a bridge too far for this Chelsea squad.