Gary Cahill accuses Chelsea teammates of having “one eye” on the FA Cup final

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Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has blasted his teammates over their final day 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United, suggesting “everyone” had one eye on the FA Cup final next Saturday. 

The Magpies put three past Antonio Conte’s side – a goal for Dwight Gayle and a brace for Ayoze Perez – as Chelsea finished the Premier League season in disappointing style.

The defeat confirmed Chelsea’s absence from the Champions League next campaign, with last season’s Premier League champions having to settle for Europa League football next year.

However, Conte’s men are still in contention to win the FA Cup, where they will face Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.

And Cahill believes the upcoming final provided his side with enough distraction to lose focus in their defeat to Newcastle, with the England international condemning his teammates for capitulating on Tyneside.

Speaking to reporters, according to the Express, Cahill said: “That was a below par performance, and for whatever reason we were way off the pace today.

“Newcastle started very well and we were sloppy.

“It looked to me like everyone had one eye on the cup final which is very dangerous and we were lucky the game was kind of irrelevant. Had the Champions League truly been on the line it would have been very difficult to take. We came here to give a performance and take three points.

“Prior to the Huddersfield game we were in good form but that’s not an excuse.”

Chelsea take on Manchester United this Saturday at Wembley Stadium in the FA Cup final.