Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte hoping to pull off a magic trick to save Man United and Chelsea's seasons

Matt Jones - Editor 09:00 19/05/2018
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  • They say the FA Cup has lost the magic it is famed for. Try telling that to this season’s finalists.

    Manchester United and Chelsea clash in west London, with both sides desperate to pull a rabbit from the hat and conjure a magnificent end to what have been mediocre campaigns.

    Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho are the Harry Houdini and David Copperfield characters centre stage at Wembley, with red and blue-clad fans in the stands clamoring for them to put a magical twist on a mundane season.

    With supporters and critics alike claiming the FA Cup has lost its lustre – from being devalued by the big teams fielding weakened sides or Football Association chiefs intent on staging semi-finals at the home of football to help pay off the Wembley debt – there is some merit to this.

    But with the final pitting two sides against each other with a pressing desire to salvage their sorry seasons, there is a sense this is the most important final in years.

    Sure, there are positives to take from this campaign for United. Second place is their best league finish in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era – following seventh, fourth, fifth and sixth. Their points tally of 81 is also a marked improvement on the last four years (64, 70, 66, 69). They will also play Champions League football next year.

    Yet, these are hollow victories considering the chasm that currently exists between them and Manchester rivals City – both in terms of points and style of play.

    Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte have the chance to save their seasons.

    Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte have the chance to save their seasons.

    United fans wanted progress under Mourinho and you can’t argue he hasn’t delivered. Two major trophies and the promise of a third this weekend.

    Yet, in tangible terms, it seems they are further away than ever from reasserting themselves as England’s elite club.

    The 19-point gap to their city rivals is the biggest from first to second in the Premier League era and the largest separating champions to runners-up since the 18 points between treble winners United and Arsenal in 1999/2000.

    As they look to close the gap next season, this offers them a small opportunity to lay down an early marker and at least head off into the summer on a high.

    Although the Reds can cling to respectability, Chelsea’s fans will be left singing the Blues in more ways than one should they be sent packing down Wembley Way.

    It’s been a chastening season for a team who believed they’d erased the painful memory of 2015/16 when they followed title triumph a year earlier with a terrible 10th place – finishing 31 points behind champions Leicester.

    Even though fifth-place this year is better off in terms of table position, they were still 30 points adrift of top spot.

    The blame for that woeful campaign three years ago was placed at Mourinho’s door and he was sacked by Roman Abramovich for a second time.

    King Conte was coronated when he replaced him as he capped his debut in English football by winning the club’s fifth Premier League crown 12 months ago.

    Just as three seasons ago, blame for this term’s tragedy rests with the manager. But two poor finishes in three seasons smacks of deeper issues bubbling under the surface at Stamford Bridge.

    Victory on Saturday is therefore probably even more vital for Chelsea. Defeat at the hands of their former idol will give Mourinho vengeance and leave a venomous taste in the mouth.

    So, will it be Mourinho or Conte waving their wand, Paul Pogba or Eden Hazard wowing a captive Wembley audience? Getting out of this uninspiring campaign with something to cheer will prove the winner to be a truly elusive escape artist.

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