At Stamford Bridge, current FIFA Club World Cup champions Chelsea showcased their strength against League One side Port Vale.

Alejandro Garnacho celebrates his goal in Chelsea's 7-0 win over Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter-finals at Stamford Bridge, London, England on 4/4. *Photo: Chelsea FC*.

The Blues took a 3-0 lead in the first half with goals from Jorrel Hato, Joao Pedro, and an own goal by Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel. This marked the fifth time this season Chelsea scored three or more goals in the first half across all competitions, a feat unmatched by any other Premier League team.

The hosts maintained their intensity in the second half, adding four more goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, Estevao Willian, and Alejandro Garnacho. This dominant 7-0 victory made Chelsea the first team to score seven goals in an FA Cup quarter-final since Liverpool achieved the same against Birmingham City in the 2005-2006 season.

Estevao shines with a goal and an assist. *Photo: Reuters*.

Estevao shone particularly bright in this overwhelming display, contributing one goal and one assist. At 18 years and 345 days, Estevao became the youngest player to both score and assist in an FA Cup match for a Premier League club since Bukayo Saka achieved it for Arsenal against Bournemouth in 1/2020, then aged 18 years and 144 days.

Coach Liam Rosenior expressed satisfaction with the team's focus and intensity. "Today's success stems from that," he stated after the match. "We have excellent players who score many goals, and the team's style of play is impressive. However, the foundation for this victory was how the entire team applied our tactics in the first half, particularly our relentless pressing and challenging."

Securing a place in the FA Cup semi-finals provided Chelsea with a perfect return after the international break, setting the stage for the season's crucial run-in. Rosenior highlighted that the period players spent on international duty was also a vital opportunity for the team to review, consolidate, and come back stronger.

Enzo Fernandez smiles on the bench. *Photo: Chelsea FC*.

Beyond on-field matters, Rosenior also addressed his relationship with Enzo Fernandez. The Argentine midfielder received internal disciplinary action for "crossing the line" with comments about his future to the media during the recent FIFA Days. Fernandez will remain sidelined for the Premier League match against Chelsea on 12/4.

Rosenior stated, "Enzo and I have a very good relationship. I spoke frankly with him. What outsiders think may not necessarily reflect the truth." He declined to confirm whether Fernandez had apologized to the team. "It was great to see him come to support the team today. We will move forward and aim to complete an impressive journey this season."

Hong Duy