FA Cup: Chelsea interim boss McFarlane explains Adarabioyo selection over Hato

Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane has justified his decision to start Tosin Adarabioyo ahead of Jorrel Hato in the FA Cup semi-final victory over Leeds United, citing tactical demands and aerial strength.

Chelsea secured a 1-0 win at Wembley to reach the FA Cup final, ending a difficult run that led to the dismissal of Liam Rosenior.

The result also marked a rare defensive improvement, with the Blues keeping their first clean sheet since mid-February.

Tactical call pays off

Adarabioyo, who has struggled for regular minutes this season, delivered a strong performance. The defender completed 86% of his passes, recorded 12 defensive actions, and won seven of his eight aerial duels, effectively neutralising the threat of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Speaking after the match, McFarlane admitted the selection decision was not straightforward.

“It’s a really good question, and it was one of the most difficult decisions in preparing for this game, because Jorrel Hato has probably been our best player over the last five or six games,” he said.

“But I decided to go with Tosin mainly because of the threat of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and because he was probably the best match-up to deal with that. Set-pieces are a massive part of their game, and Tosin is a great leader with a strong character.”

Performance justifies selection

The 28-year-old’s inclusion raised eyebrows given his limited involvement, just 27 appearances across all competitions prior to the tie, but his performance provided a clear response.

McFarlane added: “I fully trust Jorrel, and he could have played this game, just like Wesley Fofana could have. As a manager you make decisions and hope they come off, and I thought Tosin was exceptional today.”

Midfielder Enzo Fernandez scored the only goal of the match, sending Chelsea into their first FA Cup final since 2022. They will now face Manchester City at Wembley on May 16.