A fixture brimming with history will be staged at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Chelsea facing Leeds United in the semifinal of the FA Cup.
These two foes contested the 1970 FA Cup final and subsequent replay, matches widely considered to be the dirtiest and most ferocious played in English history. The north vs. south divide birthed an utterly fierce rivalry, which was eventually edged by Chelsea after extra time during the replay.
Less brutality is expected during the upcoming meeting this weekend, but emotions will still run high as both teams seek a place in the showpiece event.
Chelsea enter the fixture in abysmal form and under interim head coach Calum McFarlane after the recent dismissal of Liam Rosenior. After seven defeats from eight and five straight league losses without scoring, BlueCo’s patience with their inexperienced manager ran out.
Such has been Chelsea’s decline, many have marked Leeds as favorites for the semifinal. The Whites have strengthened their Premier League survival bid in recent weeks with a strong run of results, while they have taken four points off Chelsea in the league this term—including an emphatic 3–1 win at Elland Road in December.
Chelsea are in an ever-worsening crisis at present. Rosenior’s firing could spark an end-of-season surge, but the problems run much deeper than the head coach at Stamford Bridge. Protests against the ownership and a squad performing far beneath its level provide the backdrop for Sunday’s game.
Things are comparatively rosy in Yorkshire, Leeds having widened the gap between themselves and the drop zone prior to the semifinal, all but securing their place in the competition next season. They can play with freedom and confidence at Wembley.
Chelsea may boast the superior squad, but momentum could drag Leeds to a first FA Cup final since 1973.
Chelsea’s goalscoring woes: Aside from firing seven unanswered goals past Port Vale in the previous round, the Blues have been dreadful in front of goal lately. They have failed to score in six of their last seven matches and have suffered their worst goalless league run since 1912.
Wembley curse: Chelsea have not enjoyed recent trips to the new Wembley. They have played at the venue 23 times in total, winning just 13 of those encounters, and they became the first team to lose six consecutive finals at Wembley with defeat to Liverpool in the 2023–24 Carabao Cup.
Leeds form: The Whites have been incredibly difficult to beat in recent months. Without defeat in their last seven games and having lost just four times this calendar year, they will push Chelsea to their limits on Sunday.
