Chapter 790: Master and Apprentice
With the conclusion of Matchweek 36, Manchester United held a 3-point lead over Liverpool atop the Premier League table.
Attention quickly shifted to the FA Cup semifinals, with two matches featuring four teams from Manchester and London taking place at Wembley Stadium.
On the evening of July 18, Manchester City faced Arsenal in the first semifinal. In this matchup between mentor Pep Guardiola and his apprentice Mikel Arteta, it was Arteta's Arsenal who had the last laugh. Thanks to Aubameyang's brace, Arsenal pulled off a surprising 2-0 victory, advancing to their 21st FA Cup final.
The following evening, Manchester United and Chelsea squared off in the other semifinal.
Mourinho Goes All-In
Despite United having a crucial Premier League match in three days, Mourinho fielded his strongest lineup for the FA Cup semifinal.
This decision was driven by several factors. First, United's 3-point lead in the league, coupled with their significant goal difference advantage, meant they were only one win away from virtually securing the title. Second, the FA Cup had reached its penultimate stage, and winning just two more matches would see United claim their fifth consecutive FA Cup title—an achievement of great allure for the club.
The £2 million prize for winning the FA Cup, while seemingly insignificant in normal circumstances, took on added value amidst the financial challenges brought about by the pandemic. With matchday revenues severely impacted, any additional income could help offset the club's losses.
The Financial Strain of the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted European football, eliminating matchday revenues and slashing commercial income. Many clubs found themselves struggling financially, forcing them to cut costs.
The first major club to announce pay cuts was Juventus. On March 29, the Italian giants revealed that players and coaching staff had agreed to forego wages from March to June, saving the club €90 million.
On April 6, Serie A officially announced a league-wide pay cut agreement. Players would forfeit four months' wages (one-third of their salaries) if the league could not restart. If it resumed, they would forgo two months' wages (one-sixth of their salaries).
Spain's La Liga soon followed suit. Barcelona's players reluctantly agreed to a 70% pay cut, while Real Madrid's players and staff voluntarily accepted a 10-20% salary reduction.
Interestingly, Juventus' wage cuts were spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo, while Barcelona's players only conceded after significant pressure from the club.
The Premier League's Unique Position
Unlike other major European leagues, most Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester City, avoided wage cuts. Only Arsenal implemented a 12.5% pay cut.
The reluctance to cut wages in England stemmed from two key factors. First, Premier League players were notably resistant to the idea. Second, the owners of England's top clubs were immensely wealthy and could absorb financial losses.
Manchester United, for instance, is owned by Sheikh Jassim, a member of Qatar's royal family with a fortune worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Given Qatar's wealth derived from oil, the pandemic's impact on Sheikh Jassim's finances was minimal.
Moreover, United's robust revenue streams mitigated the blow to matchday income. Matchday revenue, which accounted for £200 million of United's record £800 million total revenue during the 2018-2019 season, was a significant figure. However, it represented only about 25% of the club's total earnings.
United's strong brand, massive stadium capacity (over 70,000 seats at both Old Trafford and their temporary home, Millennium Stadium), and lucrative commercial ventures further insulated the club from financial hardship.
Still, with £2 million up for grabs in the FA Cup, every bit of additional income mattered.
Chelsea's Season on the Line
Chelsea approached the FA Cup semifinal with equal determination.
The Blues had endured a disappointing season across all competitions. They exited the Premier League title race early, and in the Champions League, despite topping their group, they were knocked out in the Round of 16 by RB Leipzig.
With the FA Cup remaining their only shot at silverware, Chelsea treated the semifinal as their season's defining match.
According to insider sources, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has issued an ultimatum to Frank Lampard: if Chelsea fails to win the FA Cup, the club legend will undoubtedly be shown the door at the end of the season.
Under such pressure, Chelsea's players started the match with an aggressive approach.
A Red Card Changes the Game
As the first half of the FA Cup semifinal between Manchester United and Chelsea ended, the scoreboard at Wembley Stadium displayed: Manchester United 0–1 Chelsea.
The match's turning point occurred just nine minutes in. United midfielder Fred was shown a red card for an elbow to the face of Chelsea's Mateo Kovačić during a duel for possession. Kovačić fell to the ground in apparent agony, and the referee judged the contact as intentional, immediately brandishing the red card.
Mourinho was livid on the sidelines, arguing vehemently that the incident warranted no more than a yellow card, as Fred's actions were unintentional and not malicious.
Chelsea Capitalizes
The unexpected red card disrupted Mourinho's tactical plans, leaving United on the back foot for much of the first half.
In added time of the first half, Willian received the ball in the attacking third and passed it to the left flank, where César Azpilicueta delivered a low cross into the box. Olivier Giroud stretched to meet the ball and nudged it past David de Gea, with the ball slowly rolling into the net.
Chelsea broke the deadlock to take a 1-0 lead.
"Well done, lads. You've done a fantastic job," Lampard told his players at halftime.
"But remember, 1-0 is not enough. They're down to 10 men; we need to keep scoring and aim for a convincing win," Lampard added passionately.
"Don't forget our goal—revenge! Revenge for the humiliating defeat at their stadium earlier this season. Revenge for being double-swept in the league! Revenge for being beaten four times by United this season!"
This was the fifth meeting between the two teams this season, with Chelsea losing all previous encounters—two in the league, one in the UEFA Super Cup, and another in the League Cup fourth round. Chelsea's four defeats to United had set a humiliating record, second only to Manchester City's five losses to United in one season.
For Chelsea, a club established as a European powerhouse, this was nothing short of a disgrace.
Lampard's Pre-Match Concerns
Before the game, Lampard had agonized over how to defeat United. He knew his team was not as strong as Mourinho's United, and with his tactical philosophy inspired by Mourinho's methods, Chelsea often found themselves neutralized when facing their former mentor.
Despite Abramovich's pre-match demand for victory, Lampard privately believed Chelsea's chances of success were slim and braced himself for another trophyless season.
However, the referee's decision to send Fred off early in the game opened a door Lampard hadn't expected. Now, the possibility of not just a victory but a dominant win seemed within reach.
For the entire 15-minute halftime break, Lampard couldn't hide his excitement.
The day before, Arteta had led Arsenal to a victory over his former mentor Guardiola. Lampard believed he, too, could replicate that feat by beating Mourinho today.
Lampard also thought of another parallel: 30 years ago, Alex Ferguson secured his job at Manchester United by winning the FA Cup, paving the way for his legendary dynasty. Perhaps, Lampard mused, history could repeat itself, and he could become Chelsea's equivalent of Ferguson.
He couldn't shake the feeling that he was destined to be the protagonist today.
Mourinho's Halftime Adjustments
Meanwhile, in United's dressing room, Mourinho was laying out his plans for the second half.
"The first 15 minutes of the second half are crucial. Whether Chelsea plays conservatively or aggressively, our priority is to avoid conceding another goal. Even if it means sacrificing our attack, focus on defense. If they go 2-0 up, we'll be in serious trouble," Mourinho said sternly.
"After 15 minutes, we'll increase the tempo."
"Marcus [Rashford] and Kylian [Mbappé], I need you to be more active on the wings, constantly stretching their full-backs."
"Harry [Kane], your role is to hold the ball up for your teammates. Kylian, Marcus, and Bruno should be looking for shooting opportunities."
With Chelsea's defenders towering over United's forwards, Kane's physicality and hold-up play were vital for United's attacking strategy.
"N'Golo [Kanté], your task is the most demanding. You'll need to work even harder to compensate for Fred's absence," Mourinho concluded.
As the team headed back out for the second half, Mourinho's message was clear: stay disciplined, weather the storm, and wait for the right moment to strike.
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