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FA Cup Final Preview: Chelsea - Everton
Everton look to remedy a 14-year barren silverware run, while Guus Hiddink will be hoping for a champagne send-off.
29-May-2009 7:30:11 PM
Saturday, 30 May. Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Wembley, London
Wembley, London
For the second successive season the destination of the FA Cup could end up in a ground that does not house one of the top four Premier League clubs. Everton are seeking an elusive piece of silver that has evaded them for nearly a decade and a half. Meanwhile, Chelsea could go a second year without a pot to show should they fail to defeat David Moyes' men.
Hiddink's Last Hoo-Ha
Interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink will conclude his temporary tenure after Saturday's showdown in order to return to his managerial duties with the Russian national side, but the cultured boss has not ruled out a return to England in the future. He recently said, "The English game is dominant in world football and of course I am tempted to return here."
Hiddink has long made clear his intentions of honouring the original deal and staying true to his responsibilities with Russia so that he can realise the hopes and ambitions of the Sbornaja and qualify for the 2010 World Cup. However, once the tournament in South Africa comes to a close, any club looking for a manager will be pressed to find greater than the ‘Golden Guus’.
The 62-year-old, a European Cup winner with Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, has overseen a transition in the fortunes of the Blues from an ailing outfit in desperation of wins, into a team that are now displaying the resilience that was prevalent in the Chelsea team that Jose Mourinho built.
The Stamford Bridge side were denied entrance into the Champions League final in Rome due to a number of penalty calls that were waved on by Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo, who had to be chaperoned out of the country under a cloak of safety. Their passage to the FA Cup final, though, was slightly less contentious.
David Moyes' CV
One candidate in contention for a job at one of the Premier League's big four sides is Everton governor David Moyes. The iron-willed Scot has built up a strong side heavy on work-rate, on a sound budget.
The Glaswegian has an eye for talent, whether he is plucking burgeoning midfielders from the lower leagues in England that other managers deemed unable to make the step-up to the top tier (Tim Cahill at Millwall), or scouring the continent for up-and-comers (Marouane Fellaini at Standard Liege).
The one thing missing from Moyes' CV is a trophy, and if he were to secure silver with a club that he has transformed, then that will only bolster his credentials when vying for the future role at Manchester United, or even Chelsea.
Titanic Clash
Tim Cahill and Michael Essien are two of the most exciting talents in England. The former's versatility has proved influential in the club's run in the Premier League, and the threat he poses in the area with his bounce never ceases to disappoint.
Essien, on the other hand, is a hustling midfielder capable of breaking up play and beginning his own forward motions. He takes the initiative to make things happen, has a sharp burst of pace, and possesses the ability of stifling Cahill should the Australian international be off his 'A' game.
History Favours Hiddink
On neither occasion this season when Everton and Chelsea have squared off has a goal been produced. Going back further into time and you won't find a Toffees win until you come across details of Everton's 2-1 success over Chelsea in 2000.
Despite there being no goals to rave about this season, these two sides have produced some classic fixtures. In 2006 Chelsea came from behind twice to steal a 3-2 win in the Premier League.
Road To Wembley
Chelsea
3rd Round - Southend (1-1, 4-1 replay)
4th Round - Ipswich (3-1)
5th Round - Watford (3-1)
6th Round - Coventry (2-0)
Semi-Final - Arsenal (2-1)
Everton
3rd Round - Macclesfield (1-0)
4th Round - Liverpool (1-1, 1-0 replay)
5th Round - Aston Villa (3-1)
6th Round - Middlesbrough (2-1)
Semi-Final - Manchester United (0-0, win on pens)
FORM GUIDE
Chelsea
May 24 Sunderland 2-3 Chelsea (Premier League)
May 17 Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn Rovers (Premier League)
May 10 Arsenal 1-4 Chelsea (Premier League)
May 06 Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona (Champions League)
May 02 Chelsea 3-1 Fulham (Premier League)
Everton
May 24 Fulham 0-2 Everton (Premier League)
May 16 Everton 3-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
May 09 Everton 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
May 03 Sunderland 0-2 Everton (Premier League)
Apr 25 Everton 1-2 Manchester City (Premier League)
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea
There was initial trepidation over the fitness of Frank Lampard, who suffered a hamstring twinge recently, but these have since been allayed with the declaration from the player himself that he is feeling 100 per cent.
Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira continue their spell in rehabilitation.
Squad: Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Bosingwa, A Cole, Terry, Ivanovic, Alex, Carvalho, Belletti, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, Kalou, Malouda, Di Santo, Drogba, Anelka, Essien, Mancienne.
Predicted XI: Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, A Cole, Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.
Everton
Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta, Victor Anichebe and Yakubu Aiyegbeni are all still recovering from long-term injuries.
Squad: Everton (from): Howard, Hibbert, Lescott, Baines, Osman, Neville, Fellaini, Vaughan, Pienaar, Cahill, Saha, Jo, Rodwell, Nash, Yobo, Castillo, Jacobsen, Gosling, Vaughan.
Predicted XI: Howard, Hibbert, Lescott, Yobo, Baines, Fellaini, Neville, Pienaar, Osman, Cahill, Saha.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chelsea
Chelsea have match-winners all over the park. Ghana midfielder Michael Essien will have to handle the talismanic Tim Cahill while Frank Lampard will be given freedom of the pitch to roam from box to box.
Everton
Leighton Baines has been playing his way into international contention due to his sterling displays from the left-back berth and an interesting battle for supremacy down that flank could become apparent as Jose Bosingwa likes to get forward. If Baines can contain Bosingwa while getting behind the Portuguese to supply his own front-men, then the tie could swing in the Toffees' favour.
PREDICTION
Chelsea 2-1 Everton (A.E.T)
Alan Dawson, Goal.com
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