Chelsea’s official social media accounts poked fun at Leeds United and their fans after the Blues' FA Cup semi-final win - and they were right.
The club posted an image depicting the contrasting emotions between the two sets of supporters, accompanied by the caption ‘On your big day out’. It was a big day out for Leeds, 30 years in the making, in fact.
Not since 1996 had the Whites made a major domestic semi-final, and it was nine years prior the last time they’d reached that stage in the FA Cup. And even then, that fixture in 1987 had taken place at Hillsborough, not the national stadium.
A case for keeping FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley
Historically, Wembley trips haven’t been kind to the Whites. But, gluttons for punishment they arrived in their droves. Trains packed with yellow, white and blue shirts pulled into King’s Cross on Sunday morning; many were already in the capital, intent on making a weekend of it.
Twenty-four hours earlier, Finn Azaz’s late opener in Southampton’s FA Cup semi-final versus Manchester City sent the Saints into rapturous celebration, before the inevitable sky blue comeback.
Pep Guardiola’s 33rd visit to Wembley as Man City boss drew predictable criticism for scheduling non-final matches at the country's largest stadium, but club fixtures at the national stadium still have that undeniable allure, as proven by the turnout at Chelsea-Leeds.
While England games at Wembley outside major tournaments are largely sterile affairs, matches between two club sides generate a fantastic atmosphere, especially when there are 40,000 rooting for an underdog.
There is, of course, a valid argument that Wembley should host only the biggest fixtures and that semi-finals should be played elsewhere, at Villa Park or Old Trafford, like they used to.
But a semi-final is a big day out. The Leeds and Southampton ends in particular were awash with colour in the spring sunshine. The cacophony upon alighting the Jubilee line at Wembley Park station isn’t your average noise, either.
Reaching this stage of a major cup competition is an achievement in itself, so why should attendance at the national stadium be reserved for the big clubs over and over? Because, let’s be honest, it was always likely to be a Man City-Chelsea final.
Are days out only reserved for those at the top of the footballing food chain?
There will be many supporters of the two defeated semi-finalists who subscribe to the notion of not letting 90 minutes ruin a good day out at the football. Ask those with sore heads on Monday morning whether they regretted going and the majority will tell you it was a great occasion, regardless of result, representing their team on the big stage.
Results may not have gone in their favour but it was something more than that. The football isn’t always about the football.
