FA CUP FINALS: Chelsea wants a revenge in FA cup finals to recover from Champions League heartbreak

Thomas Tuchel has come out to say that Chelsea’s 2-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Crystal Palace will help the Blues recover from their Champions League heartbreak and set them up for a chance at revenge against Liverpool.

Goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount sent Chelsea on their way to a 16th FA Cup final appearance, the third most of any team in the competition’s history.

Tuchel’s side were at risk of their season fizzling out to a disappointing end, with little left to play for in the Premier League and a gut-wrenching European exit last time out.

Chelsea dominated Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie at the Bernabeu, overturning a 3-1 first leg deficit to lead 3-0 on the night.

However, a late goal from Rodrygo and an eventual winner from Karim Benzema sent the defending champions packing after a night in which they played so brilliantly.

Tuchel explained it was a strange feeling returning home after the defeat, but beating Palace in a knockout competition has helped his players recover from their disappointment.

“It was a bit weird, the result was excellent in Madrid and still it was not enough,” he talks about disappointment at Madrid. 

“We had an exit of Champions League and we absolutely wanted to stay in the competition so there was a bit of mixed feelings there of course.

“But it helped today to play for something big and not only to play for points but also to play for something big helped them.”

Tuchel was proud of his team’s performance in reaching the FA Cup final, particularly after he compared the workload of his players to their defeated opponents.

He said: “[I’m] very proud because it was very challenging, we come from a Premier League match in Southampton and we go to a epic match in the Champions League and we have another competition and another opponent who plays fresh, who’s well prepared. 

“We have the most minutes in our legs of all teams so it is physically and mentally demanding but I thought the team did excellent so full credit to them, we were very disciplined and they were very disciplined so it was a stuck game a bit.”

Chelsea will be looking to win the FA Cup a year on from losing the 2021 final to Leicester, but there’s also been disappointment elsewhere.

The Blues have already played at Wembley this season, facing Liverpool in the League Cup final where they lost an epic 11-10 penalty shootout.

Their result in the Spanish capital could have dampened the mood at Stamford Bridge, but Tuchel feels his player’s performance against Palace will help them build confidence before they seek revenge against Liverpool in the FA Cup final on May 14.

“Yeah of course, of course [we’re looking for revenge],” Tuchel admitted. 

“We will not get the Carabao Cup final back but we are again in Wembley, again in an FA Cup final in two consecutive years which is great. 

“We are also very proud, we have a lot of respect for the FA Cup, such a traditional respected cup worldwide and to be part of it and a final against Liverpool in Wembley is huge. 

“I’m grateful for it and we will be ready.”