The last domestic game of the English season will take place on Saturday afternoon when Chelsea take on Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Both clubs won three trophies between themselves during the previous campaign but this time around they have found it a little difficult.
The final will be expected to be a low-scoring, tactical encounter, with both sides known for their strong and robust defences.
Here are the five things to look out for at Wembley:
#1 Which Chelsea will turn up?
From Premier League champions to finishing outside of the Champions League places, it really has been a season to forget for Conte. There have been a number of results during this campaign which have clearly suggested that the Chelsea players would rather be somewhere else. Their 3-0 defeat on the last day of the season at Newcastle was a perfect example of that. If that Chelsea decides to turn up against United then Mourinho’s men will wipe the floor with them. Otherwise, it will be a close affair with one goal possibly deciding the tie.
#2 Kante to do it all on his own?
Despite producing mixed results throughout the season, one thing that has remained a constant for Chelsea has been the form of N’Golo Kante. The energetic midfielder will need to be at his best at the weekend if Chelsea are to lift the FA Cup. He will need his attacking teammates, Eden Hazard, Willian and Olivier Giroud, to produce the goods in the final third but Kante’s battle in midfield will be an interesting one. He will more than likely be tasked with stopping his under-fire France teammate Paul Pogba, who can at times reflect the way United play. Either sublime or ridiculous.
#3 Lingard to be the unsung hero again?
Whilst there are other bigger names in the United squad, no outfield player has probably performed better than Jesse Lingard this season. The England international has no doubt been the best performing midfielder at Old Trafford, which will make him a certain starter at the weekend. Lingard has a strong record at Wembley, scoring in the FA Cup, League Cup and Charity Shield final in recent years.
#4 Will Jose spring a surprise?
Mourinho will be well aware that Eden Hazard will be his club’s biggest attacking threat on Saturday and stopping him from playing will almost guarantee his side the win. Therefore, could Jose spring a surprise and play three at the back in order to nullify the threat of Hazard out wide? During the back end of the Premier League season, Mourinho did play three or five at the back, which could have been an audition for the FA Cup final clash.
#5 Will Conte walk?
From the very first game of the season, Conte’s future at Stamford Bridge has been constantly questioned and the Italian has shown signs that he is not happy at his current club. Regardless of whether Chelsea lift the FA Cup at the weekend, it won’t be a surprise to see Conte walk away from his job at the end of the evening. He has expressed his annoyance at the Chelsea board throughout the campaign and that anger towards those in the suits will not mellow down any time soon. His post-match press conference after the game will be very interesting.
