The winner of this tie will advance to the final on May 16 and will face either Manchester City or Southampton.
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Match preview
Just over three months into a six-year contract, Liam Rosenior was sacked 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 widened the gap to seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, who have also played a game less, putting their UEFA Champions League ambitions in serious jeopardy.
Meanwhile, Calum McFarlane returns to take over as caretaker manager, as he did following the departure of Enzo Maresca in early January, with the aim of leading Chelsea to their 17th FA Cup final and first appearance since 2022.
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The Blues have an impressive history in the FA Cup semi-finals, advancing in nine of their previous 11 appearances, with defeats only to Manchester City in the 2012/13 and 2023/24 campaigns.
Despite their league problems, Chelsea remain the competition’s top scorers with 20 goals, including seven in the quarter-final rout of Port Vale.
They could also etch their name in the record books by becoming the first team to score four or more goals in five consecutive FA Cup matches.
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.
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In contrast to the Blues’ woes, Leeds have put together a good run, going seven games unbeaten in all competitions and moving away from relegation in the top flight.
The Whites will be determined to halt Chelsea’s progress, having made history as the first newly promoted team to reach the FA Cup semi-finals since Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018/19.
If they beat Chelsea and reach the FA Cup final for the first time since the 1972/73 season, Leeds will dream of winning their first FA Cup since the 1971/72 campaign.
team news
McFarlane confirmed that Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro had trained in his pre-match press conference and could be present for the semi-final clash.
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However, Estevao Willian will be out for the remainder of the season with 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 doubts.
Planned lineups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sánchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella, Santos, Caicedo, Fernández, 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.