Thomas Tuchel 'proud' Chelsea verdict proves FA Cup loss does not change Todd Boehly mission

Thomas Tuchel was full of praise for Chelsea's performance on Saturday evening, though his words of pride will do little to soothe another FA Cup final wound. It was more baffling how similar the evening played out compared to February's equally devastating loss to the same opposition.

"Well, I think like in the last final, the Carabao Cup, no regrets. I told the team I am proud. I was super proud before and happy before the match to arrive with this group. We were sure we were competitive, and we could make life very difficult for Liverpool. We did it again."

Tuchel is right to point to Chelsea's level of tactical execution against what is hailed the greatest Liverpool team of all time, all four encounters this term have been defined by the smallest of margins, two by penalty shootouts. But the level of competitiveness against Jurgen Klopp's title-chasers should not be used as a tool to warp reality.

If Christian Pulisic had taken one of his chances on Saturday, if Mason Mount and Cesar Azplicueta had been buried their penalties, it would have sparked scenes of celebration, but it wouldn't have changed what needs to be done at Stamford Bridge this summer as Todd Boehly's takeover nears its completion.

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In recent years, a triumphant trophy lift has helped to salvage challenging campaigns, masking the failures in the Premier League and broader deficiencies in the squad. None more so than last May's Champions League win – simply one of the greatest nights in the club's entire history.

However, rather than being used as a springboard to embark on radical change, it likely only reaffirmed the status quo. That through the chaos,