Chelsea vs Leeds United FA Cup preview, team news and prediction

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Just days after Liam Rosenior's sacking and further calls for Todd Boehley to leave Chelsea, the Blues will be looking for a positive spin this week in the FA Cup and return to winning ways against Leeds United at Wembley Stadium.

A place in the May 16 final — against either Manchester City or Southampton — is up for grabs, but Chelsea are also searching for some much-needed stability. After the club opted to move on from Enzo Maresca and appoint Rosenior, a coach viewed as more aligned with the owners’ approach and already familiar with their model from Strasbourg, results quickly unravelled.

Rosenior was dismissed just three months into a six-year deal following a brutal run of seven defeats in eight matches in all competitions, including six straight losses without a goal. In an unusually worded statement, Chelsea said they would take a period of “self-reflection” before naming a new permanent head coach, with Andoni Iraola and former Blues midfielder Cesc Fabregas reportedly among the candidates.

For now, Calum McFarlane takes charge as interim boss again, hoping to guide Chelsea to a 17th FA Cup final and their first since 2022. The Blues’ route to Wembley has been kind, beating Charlton, Hull, Wrexham and Port Vale while scoring at least four goals in each tie — a streak no team has ever extended to five straight FA Cup matches. That firepower, though, has vanished against stronger opposition, with Chelsea failing to score in each of their last six games versus top-flight teams.

Leeds, by contrast, arrive with momentum. Daniel Farke’s side are unbeaten in seven across all competitions and have pulled clear of the relegation fight, building a nine-point cushion over Tottenham and a seven-point gap to West Ham. With survival close, the Whites can focus on ending a 53-year wait to reach an FA Cup final, last appearing in 1973.

They have beaten Derby, Birmingham, Norwich and West Ham on their way to Wembley, although goals at the national stadium have been an issue — Leeds have not scored in their last three visits, dating back to 1996, with Eric Cantona the last player to find the net there for the club in 1992. Still, having avoided defeat in both league meetings with Chelsea this season, Leeds will believe they can go one step further on the biggest stage.

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Despite the turmoil at Chelsea, interim boss Calum McFarlane offered two positives in his pre-match press conference, revealing that both Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer have returned to training and could feature in the semi-final.

Chelsea are still without a host of players, though. Estevao Willian is not expected to play again this season because of a hamstring injury, while Reece James (thigh), Filip Jorgensen (groin), Levi Colwill (knee/fitness), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (thigh) and Mykhaylo Mudryk (doping ban) also remain sidelined.

Even after the disastrous display against Brighton, McFarlane is likely to stick broadly with the side picked for Liam Rosenior’s final match, with Pedro and Palmer pushing to come in for Romeo Lavia and the struggling Wesley Fofana.

For Leeds, Daniel Farke has confirmed Ilia Gruev will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, but he is hopeful of having a few players back in contention. Jayden Bogle is being monitored after a foot knock against Bournemouth, while Sebastiaan Bornauw and Anton Stach — both nursing ankle issues — have not been ruled out.

Farke has relied on Karl Darlow in the league, but has suggested cup goalkeeper Lucas Perri is set to start at Wembley.

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