The 2026 FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City was a tight affair.
After a turbulent season, Calum McFarlane’s men went into the game as huge underdogs. Yet they were able to go toe-to-toe with City.
In the end, though, one moment of pure quality from Antoine Semenyo managed to separate the two sides and give City the win and ultimately the trophy.
However, had the January transfer window gone differently, Saturday’s game could have been a completely different story.
Imagine if we signed Antoine Semenyo! 😩
Man City's FA Cup hero was linked with a move to the Blues back in January…
Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City
Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Chelsea will regret not making serious effort to sign Antoine Semenyo
Before his move from Bournemouth to City during the winter, Chelsea thought about signing Semenyo.
Because of the finances involved, they reportedly decided against making a move for Semenyo, but that now has to be a decision that the club regret.
Again, Semenyo was the difference at Wembley. If McFarlane had the 26-year-old in his team, maybe it would have been Chelsea collecting the trophy.
Semenyo is one of the most impactful forwards in the Premier League at the moment and showed that against Chelsea.
Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
The Ghana international is such a powerful runner down the flank, scores goals and can play on both the left and right.
In 35 games this season for City and Bournemouth, Semenyo has scored 16 goals in the Premier League. Only teammate Erling Haaland and Brentford’s Igor Thiago have netted on more occasions.
At 26, Semenyo has experience, and a lot of that has been acquired in English football’s top division. That is the kind of profile of player they need to be signing this summer.
Hopefully, the club’s owners and sporting directors can learn from the mistake of not going all out for Semenyo.
Of course, there is no guarantee that Semenyo would have accepted a move to Chelsea. It would have been hard for the former Bournemouth man to turn down the chance to work with Pep Guardiola. But Chelsea fans want to at least see the club targeting footballers with Semenyo’s pedigree and not unproven youngsters.
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