Surely it must be Enzo Fernandez. No player reflects more clearly Liam Rosenior's turbulent 3 months at Chelsea than the Argentine midfielder. Therefore, it is not surprising that he became a hero, inspiring the team to reach the FA Cup final.
In a context where some people see Fernandez as a culprit, others see him as a hero, his goal in the first half helped interim coach Calum McFarlane win a ticket to the final.
The most impressive thing about Fernandez is that he is like a real warrior. You don't need perfect plans in such moments. He will run and fight his best, and that is often the deciding factor" - McFarlane shared.
Rosenior - who was sacked after only 106 days of leading at Stamford Bridge - will surely have a lot to think about. He has never really exploited the full potential of Fernandez, a player once valued at 106 million pounds and a World Cup champion. Sometimes explosive, sometimes faint, this midfielder has become the embodiment of Chelsea's instability.
Under Rosenior, Fernandez's erratic performances - along with key players like Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella, Joao Pedro and Robert Sanchez - contributed to extending the 5-game losing streak in the Premier League without scoring a goal, thereby almost ending hopes of participating in the Champions League and causing Rosenior to lose his job.
However, against Leeds United, The Blues showed a completely different face. Fernandez was the center of all highlights: from the goal in the 23rd minute - a header after Pedro Neto's cross - to the ability to control the midfield with technique and fighting spirit.
Wearing the captain's armband, Fernandez played like a true leader - something that Chelsea lacked throughout the previous period. Not only scoring goals, he also played a role in regulating the match. Typically, in the second half, when he actively asked Sanchez to lie on the field so that the whole team would have time to reorganize tactics after Daniel Farke changed Leeds' system.
McFarlane may be the one who continuously directs on the sidelines, but the person who really controls the pace of the match is Fernandez. And that is also what Rosenior has to question. Why did this version of the Argentine midfielder not appear during his time in power?
The decision of BlueCo and the leadership to sack Rosenior is now somewhat eased as Chelsea reached the FA Cup final. However, a bigger challenge is waiting for them ahead. That is Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
Chelsea is still a team with great potential, having defeated Paris Saint-Germain to win the FIFA Club World Cup last summer. When they reach their peak form, they can compete with any opponent. The biggest problem for The Blues, as this season itself has pointed out, is not ability, but stability.
If Fernandez and his teammates continue to maintain the performance like against Leeds, Man City will have to be wary. But if lack of concentration returns, Chelsea could completely collapse.
McFarlane's task was to maintain the best version of the team. However, as Rosenior experienced, it was much more difficult than theory.
