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As it happenedended

FA Cup final, Chelsea vs Manchester United - as it happened: Eden Hazard penalty settles it for the Blues

Re-live all the action from Wembley

Jack Watson
Saturday 19 May 2018 15:10 BST
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FA Cup final in numbers

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Manchester United and Chelsea meet in the FA Cup final for the third time in the tournament’s 147-year history in what is lined up to be a fiercely competitive encounter at Wembley Stadium.

In a final that pits Jose Mourinho up against rival Antonio Conte, both managers know that defeat will leave them trophy-less this season – and for the latter that could prove to be the end of his reign at Stamford Bridge. Conte is expected to leave Chelsea at the end of the season, although there is hope that an FA Cup final triumph could yet keep him at the club.

For United, finishing the Premier League season 19 points behind Manchester City has been particularly embarrassing, and having failed to win the Champions League or EFL Cup, Mourinho will be desperate to add to his extensive trophy collection with the FA Cup.

Follow the match live below...


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What time does it start?

The FA Cup final is due to kick-off at 17:15 BST.

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on BBC One from 16:10 and BT Sport 1 from 16:00.

"In my soul and my heart, I’m always a hero."

Antonio Conte has insisted that he will always be a “hero” for Chelsea’s fans after clinching the Premier League title in his first season in charge at the club. This comes amid heightened speculation over his future at the club after failing to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

Jack Watson19 May 2018 14:43

Lukaku Update

The early team news rumours are that Romelu Lukaku is highly unlikely to start in the FA Cup Final.

Lukaku has missed United’s last three games after suffering an ankle injury in the victory over Arsenal and a Jose Mourinho revealed a decision would be made at the "last moment" on whether he can play.

Jack Watson19 May 2018 14:49

Marcus Rashford is the most likely candidate to start in place of the injured Romelu Lukaku.

Jack Watson19 May 2018 14:50

More United team news

​Jose Mourinho will start David de Gea in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, with Manchester United’s regular ‘cup goalkeeper’ Sergio Romero consigned to the bench.

Jack Watson19 May 2018 14:54

"I cannot find it!"

You would imagine something like an FA Cup winners medal is the kind of object you would treasure with you life, well I would.

That's not the case for Cesc Fabregas who has lost his 2004-05 FA Cup medal he won with Arsenal, his first trophy as a professional!

Jack Watson19 May 2018 14:58

Fascinating from Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has revealed some absolutely fascinating things in a feature interview with Football Focus on BBC Sport.

This is a longer than normal read but my word it is certainly worth it.

On being the best behaved manager this season: "A few months ago I was joking I deserve the award for getting the best manager on the touchline, I was not joking. I was sent off once. No problems with my comments before or after my matches.

"My mood and behaviour, representing Manchester United I had to be an example. The way you behave has no relation with the passion and the ambition, it's just the way you control your emotions."

On what he would do as a job if he was not a football manager: "It's my nature and I think if i was not a successful manager I would be a successful something, a successful PE teacher, I don't know.

"Always the person with the drive, that nature. Probably the colour of my hair doesn't tell the truth, many people think i am much older than i am because I arrive in high level football early. They think I am 66, I am 56.

On the perfect Jose Mourinho team: "The Jose Mourinho team doesn't exist, the perfect Jose Mourinho team cannot exist. The Jose Mourinho team is perfection and there is no perfection. Even when I have amazing football teams and after winning trebles, I never have the perfect team, I always look for better.

Here I am far from having a Jose Mourinho team. Teams that are ready to attack titles than Manchester United was when I arrived. I'm really happy with what I'm given.

On how his side can win the Premier League title next season: "Manchester City needs to do less points, it's not possible for my team to do 101 point.s They need to do less points and we need to improve. I don't want to do id Manchester United and Manchester City, four other clubs they have the same ambitions as we have."

"Pep did 100 points, I did 100 points in Spain. 126 goals in La Liga, to be champion on the second season, I was in the first season. To win two titles in the second season, I did in the first season. In life when you repeat, and you repeat, and you have an agenda, people think it's true.

On his time in Manchester: "I live in fantastic conditions, don't feel sorry for me. The training ground is like home for me. Like any city I work before I don't get the best from the cities because my life is football."

Jack Watson19 May 2018 15:24

Arrivederci Antonio Conte - or is it? Chelsea manager set for a FA Cup final swansong shrouded in mystery

Read the Independent's Chief Football Reporter Miguel Delaney's take on what this afternoon's FA Cup final means for Antonio Conte. 

 

Jack Watson19 May 2018 15:44

Who is handing out the trophy?

The President of the FA, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, is usually at Wembley to hand the winners the FA Cup trophy. 

But apparently he had something else on today. Honestly, those Royals need to get their shared calendars in sync.

In his absence, Ray Wilkins' widow Jackie will be in the Royal Box to present the trophy.

Wilkins, who scored in Manchester United's FA Cup final win in 1983, died on 4 April aged 61.

Tributes will also take place on the pitch before the game which include banners and dedicated pages in the official match programme.  

Jack Watson19 May 2018 15:59

Romelu Lukaku makes his way from the team hotel towards Wembley. Early rumours are that Manchester United's leading goalscorer this season will not be fit enough to start. Team news arrives in around ten minutes and all eyes will be on whether he will be fit enough. Jose Mourinho revealed that United would wait until the "last moment" to assess his fitness. 

Jack Watson19 May 2018 16:05

Jack Watson19 May 2018 16:06

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