Will the manager’s dismissal help the Blues?
Chelsea’s trophy cabinet hasn’t seen any new additions at the national level for quite some time. Their last success of this kind came in 2018 with the FA Cup victory. Now the Blues are aiming to reach the final in this year’s competition, and we’re providing you with a tip for the semifinal between Chelsea and Leeds!
The Londoners have a slight home advantage playing at Wembley Stadium, but CFC’s form leaves much to be desired. Looking back at the past eight competitive matches, Chelsea has recorded just one win—losing all the others! The FA Cup also represents Chelsea’s only remaining chance at a title this season.
Due to particularly poor recent performances, Liam Rosenior’s tenure as coach came to an end as of Wednesday of this week. The Brit had only held the job since January of this year, and his interim successor is Calum McFarlane. The former assistant coach is at least familiar with this role, having already taken it on following Enzo Maresca’s dismissal earlier this season.
While the top club from the Thames has been struggling lately, United has recently stabilized. The men from the far north have been unbeaten in their last seven matches in the Premier League and the FA Cup, and Farke’s team won the majority (4) of those encounters.
Among other things, they also defeated the in-form Manchester United side away at Old Trafford. We therefore expect a close match and are predicting a win for the “Whites” or a draw after regular time in the clash between Chelsea and Leeds.
Furthermore, we believe Noah Okafor is likely to score for Leeds. The Swiss international recently returned from an injury layoff and seamlessly picked up where he left off with his previously strong performances. In two of the past four competitive matches since his comeback, the 25-year-old has scored at least one goal for the Championship champions—including in the league match against their upcoming opponent!
Chelsea – Leeds Head-to-Head Record
The two teams have already faced each other once this year. The match took place in mid-February and ended in a 2-2 draw. For Chelsea, it felt like a loss because the “Blues” let a 2-0 lead slip away.
Leeds thus once again proved to be a tough opponent for the Londoners: Looking back at the last five meetings, the men from Elland Road have a balanced record (2-1-2). Nevertheless, the Chelsea vs. Leeds betting odds for the upcoming FA Cup semifinal place the capital club as the favorites.
Chelsea – Leeds Prediction
For both teams, the FA Cup represents the only chance at “silverware” this season. The pressure is particularly high for the Londoners ahead of the upcoming semifinal in the competition.
The expectations for the reigning Club World Cup champions are, of course, significantly higher compared to the Premier League newcomer. A win in the upcoming match is therefore a must for Chelsea, but we don’t expect it to be a walk in the park for the team from Stamford Bridge.
The “Blues” are not in good form, and it remains to be seen whether the dismissal of their previous manager this week will provide a new boost. United, on the other hand, as mentioned, can play with significantly less pressure.
Moreover, the “Peacocks” are in solid form, having gone seven competitive matches without a loss (4-3-0). Given this situation, we’re going with the odds on United not losing in regulation time for the match between Chelsea and Leeds.
