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Chelsea take on Leeds United at Wembley Stadium in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
The winner of this tie will progress to the May 16 showpiece final and will face either Manchester City or Southampton.
Match preview
Just over three months into a six-year contract, Liam Rosenior was dismissed after Tuesday’s dismal 3-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion, a result that extended Chelsea’s losing streak to five Premier League games without scoring.
Their recent form has seen the gap widen to seven points behind Liverpool in fifth, who have also played one game fewer, putting their UEFA Champions League ambitions in serious jeopardy.
In the meantime, Calum McFarlane steps in as interim boss once more, just as he did following Enzo Maresca’s exit in early January, aiming to lead Chelsea to their 17th FA Cup final and first appearance since 2022.
The Blues have an impressive history in FA Cup semi-finals, advancing from nine of their previous 11 appearances, with defeats only to Manchester City in the 2012/13 and 2023/24 campaigns.
Despite their league struggles, Chelsea remain the competition’s top scorers with 20 goals, including seven in their quarter-final rout of Port Vale.
They could also etch their name into the record books by becoming the first side to score four or more goals in five straight FA Cup games.
Chelsea and Leeds have met six times in the FA Cup, with the Blues winning every tie, most recently in the fifth round of the 2023/24 campaign.
In contrast to the Blues’ struggles, Leeds have hit a strong run of form, recording seven games without defeat across all competitions and edging away from relegation in the top flight.
The Whites will be determined to halt their Chelsea’s progress, having made history as the first newly promoted side to reach the FA Cup semi-finals since Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018/19.
Should they overcome Chelsea and reach the FA Cup final for the first time since the 1972/73 season, Leeds will be dreaming of a first FA Cup triumph since the 1971/72 campaign.
Team news
McFarlane confirmed that Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro had trained in his pre-game press conference and could feature in the semi-final clash.
However, Estevao Willian is sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury, joining Reece James, Levi Colwill, Jamie Gittens and Filip Jorgensen in the Blues’ infirmary.
Leeds will be without Ilia Gruev, while Jayden Bogle, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Anton Stach are doubtful.
Predicted line-ups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella, Santos, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer, Neto, Joao Pedro.
Leeds United (3-4-2-1): Perri, Struijk, Bijol, Rodon, Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson, Aaronson, Okafor, Calvert-Lewin.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Leeds United.
