CHELSEA v Leeds United: FA Cup Preview

Date: Sunday twenty sixth
April 2026

Venue: Wembley Stadium

Kick-off: 15:00 BST

Chelsea have simply fired one other supervisor—truthfully, we’ve misplaced observe, however who wants stability eh? As for scoring targets – nicely, lets simply say if targets are the foreign money of soccer, our account’s overdrawn, and the joy stage is someplace between watching paint dry and ready for a bus within the rain. What’s our prize for all this? A date with Soiled Leeds within the FA Cup semi-final. Strap in, that is prone to be much less a rollercoaster and extra a experience on the Ghost Prepare.

We’ve waltzed right here by bumping off Charlton Athletic, Hull Metropolis, Wrexham and Port Vale, whereas Leeds have cleared Derby County, Birmingham Metropolis, Norwich Metropolis and West Ham United—who should be questioning what hit them.

For Chelsea, it’s seven losses from eight video games, and our current soccer would give Sunday League squads—nonetheless nursing their Saturday night time complications—a run for his or her cash. If Leeds fancy a little bit of Lego, we’re able to construct them a citadel. If they need soccer, they’re much less prone to get a lot from us—they may organise a five-a-side towards beneath 11s and nonetheless find yourself with a greater contest.

Beating Leeds this season? We’ve not a lot come shut as stayed at dwelling with the curtains drawn. The best way issues are going, we’d lose an argument with a cussed toddler, by no means thoughts a soccer match. And as for our our interim supervisor? He’s ascended the ranks so shortly, we worry he’ll get altitude illness, so I’d count on him to be a bit overwhelmed with the event this afternoon and we’re in for an additional reminder of why the Blue co venture is failing so spectacularly.

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going
into right now’s sport, Calum McFarlane says “Everybody on the membership has to really feel
accountable, employees and gamers. The gamers know that, the employees know that. We’ve
all spoken, we all know that the current type has not been ok, and we’re
going to do completely all the things we are able to and work as exhausting as we presumably can to
ensure that we are able to put in a very good efficiency on Sunday. That’s the place it
begins. I believe numerous soccer is about momentum, and we’ve clearly had a
little bit of a dropping streak. That may change with one optimistic outcome, one optimistic
efficiency, and that’s what we’re aiming to do. We’ve spoken to the group
in regards to the remaining video games and what’s nonetheless to play for. From my perspective,
the entire group are united in the truth that we need to try to win each single
sport from now to the top of the season.

So
we make it so simple as that and we begin on Sunday. It’s the identical factor I’m
saying to the gamers. Let’s simply get the following few days proper. Let’s be certain
we’re prepared for Leeds and ensure we carry out nicely towards Leeds, and we’ll go
day-by-day from there. They’re prime gamers. They will carry out at a very excessive
stage and that hasn’t occurred for no matter purpose – and so they’ll take their
accountability in that, in fact – however you’ve received to adapt, you’ve received to maneuver
on. You’ve received to be prepared for the following problem, and the following problem is
Leeds. We’ll simply try to give the lads all the things they want – on the grass,
off the grass, in conferences – to ensure that they’re snug with what
they’re going to face and what we have to do to win this sport.”

Leeds
United supervisor, Daniel Farke, in the meantime, says “You at all times really feel for a
supervisor and also you don’t need a supervisor to lose his job, that’s for certain. However, on
the opposite hand, we take it as it’s. When some top-class gamers are displaying
the fundamentals and haven’t any excuses, then it may be a very, actually harmful aspect.
For that, I count on a Chelsea aspect who shall be again to their greatest. I count on a
aspect who will attempt to show that it’s a contemporary begin, and proper now the burden
has been lifted and so they need to present what they’re able to. However we have now
proven additionally towards the highest sides that we’re able to bringing a efficiency
and to ship a outcome. We’re grasping additionally to achieve success on this sport.

Chelsea
have some of the proficient squads in world soccer I’d say. So many
thrilling gamers, thrilling younger gamers, who can develop. After all, they’re
most likely not pleased with their current outcomes, however I believe on this sport, an FA
Cup semifinal, it doesn’t play a lot of a major function what occurs in
the league. We’re a bit the underdog anyhow, but in addition the underdog who has a
probability.”

SQUAD NEWS

For Chelsea, Levi Colwill (ACL), Jamie Gittens (thigh), Reece James (hamstring), Filip Jorgensen (groin) and Estevao Willian (hamstring) are all injured, while Mykhaylo Mudryk continues with the endless suspension. Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer have each skilled and must be obtainable once more.

For Leeds United, Ilia Gruev (knee) is
out however Jayden Bogle (foot), Sebastiaan Bornauw and Anton Stach (each ankle) could
all be obtainable.

TEAMS

CHELSEA (Potential line-up): Sanchez; Acheampong, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella; Fernández, Caicedo; Palmer, Pedro, Neto; Delap

LEEDS UNITED (Potential line-up): Perri;
Struijk, Bijol, Rodon; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Okafor;
Calvert-Lewin

LAST MEETING

Chelsea 2-2 Leeds
United (10 February 2026)

CURRENT FORM (ALL)

CHELSEA: LLWLLL

LEEDS UNITED: DDWWWD

OTHER STUFF

Chelsea
have performed in 16 FA Cup finalsLeeds
final made the FA Cup remaining within the 1972-73 seasonChelsea
final made it to an FA Cup remaining in 2022Leeds
United are on a seven-game unbeaten runChelsea
have failed to attain in every of their final six video games towards top-flight
opposition

PREDICTION

Sportsmole: Chelsea 3-2 Leeds United