Calum McFarlane hailed Tosin Adarabioyo as “exceptional” after the defender anchored Chelsea to a clean sheet in Sunday’s 1-0 FA Cup semi-final victory over Leeds United, a performance the interim head coach described as vindication of one of the most difficult selection decisions of his tenure.
Adarabioyo, making his first start since the quarter-final win over Port Vale and overlooked by previous manager Liam Rosenior, was chosen ahead of both Jorrel Hato and Wesley Fofana for the Wembley showdown. McFarlane said the decision was driven by the specific threat posed by Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, for whom Adarabioyo represented the “best matchup.” The 27-year-old’s aerial dominance was a decisive factor: he averages 3.12 aerial duels won per 90 minutes, placing him in the 88th percentile among centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues. His leadership, meanwhile, has earned him the nickname “Uncle Tosin” among teammates in a young squad. “It’s one of my strengths,” Adarabioyo has said of his organising presence at the back.
Set-pieces: a cornerstone of Chelsea’s strategy
McFarlane made clear the tactical significance of Adarabioyo’s selection by emphasising that “set-pieces is a massive part of their game” – referring to opponents Leeds, but also reflecting Chelsea’s own investment in the phase. The club has appointed specialist set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva to refine routines at both ends of the pitch. Adarabioyo’s aerial ability and organisational command make him a central figure in defending dead-ball situations, a role that becomes critical in tight knockout matches. His 3.12 aerial wins per 90 minutes are not merely a statistic but a strategic asset; Chelsea’s coaching staff view set-piece proficiency as a potential difference-maker in high-stakes encounters. The clean sheet against Leeds, achieved in a fixture where every defensive detail mattered, underlined the value of that approach.
McFarlane’s trust in Adarabioyo is absolute. “I fully trust Jorrel, and Jorrel could have played in this game, as could Wesley Fofana,” he said. “So you make decisions as a manager, and you hope you get them right, and I thought Tosin was exceptional today.” The praise was especially pointed given the form of Hato, whom McFarlane described as “probably our best player over the last five, six games.” The 19-year-old Dutch international, a “generational talent” with 111 senior appearances for Ajax and a versatile skillset that includes ball-carrying and passing from centre-back or left-back, opened the scoring in Chelsea’s 7-0 FA Cup quarter-final thrashing of Port Vale. His potential is rated at 87 in EA Sports FC 26, a marker of the high expectations surrounding him. Yet McFarlane concluded that for this specific fixture, against a physical opponent and with set-piece danger paramount, Adarabioyo was the right call.
Fofana, meanwhile, remains on the comeback trail from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in July 2023. He has been cleared to resume training and was available for the semi-final, but the gradual return to full match fitness – a process hampered by his history of fitness setbacks – meant he was not selected to start. McFarlane acknowledged that Fofana “could have played,” but the manager’s faith in Adarabioyo’s readiness and specific attributes carried the day. The clean sheet, and the victory, confirmed that trust.
