MX23RW : Saturday, January 8 12:58:40| >> :60:1431:1431:
Apr 17, 2021 at 5.30pm UK at Wembley Stadium
ChelseaChelsea
1-0
Man CityManchester City
Ziyech (55')
James (34'), Azpilicueta (90')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Fernandinho (63'), Laporte (90+2'), Dias (90+5')

Hakim Ziyech eyeing special end to the campaign

Hakim Ziyech eyeing special end to the campaign
© Reuters
The Blues are in the mix for FA Cup and Champions League glory.

Hakim Ziyech is looking forward to a special end to the season after Chelsea completed a "perfect week" by beating Manchester City to reach the FA Cup final.

Thomas Tuchel has enjoyed a fine start to life at Stamford Bridge since replacing Frank Lampard as boss in January, putting the Blues within touching distance of a top-four finish that had looked in jeopardy.

Furthermore, Chelsea are fighting for silverware on two fronts after sealing a Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid by overcoming Porto and then reaching a fourth FA Cup final in five years.

Ziyech secured a 1-0 Wembley win as the west Londoners ended City's quadruple quest on Saturday evening, leaving last summer's arrival from Ajax excited about what this group can achieve.

"It was a perfect week and we can enjoy that," the Morocco international said.

"Now it's a special end to the season if you see what we are still playing for.

"All the ways are open and everybody is excited about it and we cannot wait to play those games."

Ziyech was among three changes from Tuesday's 1-0 loss to Porto in Seville, where Mehdi Taremi's stoppage-time stunner was immaterial as Tuchel's men boasted a 2-0 lead from the first leg.

The 28-year-old was a late introduction in the quarter-final second-leg and a late withdrawal after a man-of-the-match display under the arch on Saturday evening.

"Those moments are always nervous from the stands," Ziyech told club media.

"I tried to stay calm but sometimes it's difficult! In the end everybody did well, we killed the game and we kept a clean sheet as well.

"Timo (Werner) did a good run into the space (for the goal), I made my run, it was a good delivery and I put it in easy.

"You always have to have that feeling before the game that you want to score.

"It feels good to be in the final. Everybody is happy. We did a good job, especially in the first half.

"The second half was a little bit difficult to close all the spaces, but we scored the one goal that we needed. It was enough."

Werner's run forced an error out of City goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who strayed out of position opening up a simple pass for Ziyech to finish into an empty net.

Zack Steffen was out of position for Chelsea's winner
Zack Steffen was out of position for Chelsea's winner (Adam Davy/PA)

The United States international has played in domestic cup matches instead of Ederson this season and held his hands up for his costly error ahead of next weekend's Wembley return for the Carabao Cup final against Tottenham.

"It's a tough one," Steffen told City+. "I think the boys did a good job, Chelsea are a tough team to play and their goal was indecision on my hands and I'll learn from it.

"You have to keep going and I'm proud of how the boys fought and didn't give up.

"The good thing is there is another game in three or four days so we can't get too low on this one.

"We have to learn from it, come back together as a team and be ready for the next one."

ID:443677: cacheID:443677:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:14109:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel pictured on April 10, 2021
Read Next:
Thomas Tuchel lauds "very brave" Chelsea after semi-final win
>

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
FA Cup
La Liga
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Primeira Liga
League One
League Two
National League
National League North
National League South
Scottish Championship
Scottish League One
Scottish League Two
Turkish Super Lig
Greek Superleague
Segunda Division
Ligue 2
Eerste Divisie
Liga MX
Australian A-League
Premier League 2 - Div 1
Women's Super League
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City21172253134053
2Chelsea21127245162943
3Liverpool20126252183442
4Arsenal2011273325835
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham20104637271034
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1810352320333
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd199463027331
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves198471414028
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942020027
10Leicester CityLeicester187473133-225
11Crystal Palace205872930-123
12Brentford196582326-323
13Aston Villa1971112530-522
14Southampton194962029-921
15Everton185492332-919
16Leeds UnitedLeeds194782137-1619
17Watford1841132236-1413
18Burnley171881627-1111
19Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1918101942-2311
20Norwich CityNorwich192413842-3410

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Match previews - Daily
Transfer Talk Daily
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!