Chelsea break Crystal Palace hearts to secure FA Cup final clash with Liverpool

Whoever ends up buying Chelsea will know they could save themselves a lot of money by investing in the club’s thriving academy. It is the gift that keeps on giving and while there will always be a place for expensive foreign signings there is no reason for Thomas Tuchel to stop trusting in the kids.

Academy products were crucial to Chelsea reaching their third successive FA Cup final, where they will face Liverpool next month. Victory over a toothless Crystal Palace was secured by Mason Mount and this was also a huge moment in the career of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who opened this game up by scoring the breakthrough goal midway through the second half.

Loftus-Cheek is a player who is yet to fulfil his vast potential. There have been disappointing loans, a series of cruel injuries and times when it has seemed his future lies away from Chelsea. Crucially, though, the midfielder still retains Tuchel’s support. Chelsea’s manager is pushing Loftus-Cheek, whose goal came with Gareth Southgate watching on from the stands, and he will want more if the 26-year-old is to earn a place in his squad once new owners arrive.

It was bewildering to think that Chelsea’s previous appearance at Wembley had come less than 24 hours after Roman Abramovich announced his fanciful plan to hand control of the club to its trustees. So much has happened since that February afternoon, which ended with Kepa Arrizabalaga’s wayward penalty giving the Carabao Cup to Liverpool, and there is still no way of knowing what comes next in this strangest of takeover sagas. Todd Boehly’s consortium? Lord Coe and Sir Martin Broughton’s group? Or will it be Stephen Pagliuca, recently seen assuring Atalanta fans of his commitment to their club, who finds himself holding