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Daniel Farke speaks to TNT Sports
[On Leeds playing their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987] We’re happy that we were able to give this gift to our fantastic supporters. It’s special and exciting but we are not just here to enjoy the moment – we want to be successful today. It’s a difficult game. But we know that at our best, we have a chance to reach the final.
[On Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who starts his FA Cup game of the season] He has played here several times for his country so he’s used to the stadium and the circumstances. I don’t just judge him on goalscoring. His workload is crucial, his link play and hold-up play.
Lucas Perri fully deserves to play. He has been fantastic during the cup run.
On the ball – guess the footballer
The Guardian has kicked off a new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game, On the ball. It is now live in the app for both iOS and Android … so what are you waiting for?
Chelsea have also been in WSL action today. You can read all about their game at Everton, plus the latest in the Scottish title race and more, with our clockwatch.
“I’ve been a Leeds fan since I was a nipper,” writes Jeremy Boyce, “and I’m old enough to remember the Trolleybuses on Briggate. As you say, Sir Don was manager last time we made it to an FA Cup final, but lest we forget, it ended, as did so many trophy campaigns under Revie, in disappointment, thanks to Sunderland’s Ian Porterfield’s goal and Jim Montgomery’s amazing double save.
“Since those halcyon Revie days we’ve had ups and downs (mostly downs) with occasional false dawns (Armfield, Wilkinson, O’Leary, El Loco), and I think I speak for Nasties fans everywhere when I say we were filled with dread for what this season back in the Promised Land might bring, more so in November when results were poor.
“As it turns out it’s been third promotion lucky for likeable Daniel Farke, so glad the board stuck with him. So we march on together up Wembley Way with a chance of a decent crack at staying up, and making our way to a fup final shellacking by relentless trophy winners Citeh.
“There’s surely not been a much better moment to be playing the Blues, let’s hope it’s them drowning their sorrows with Muddy Waters and whisky sour afterwards. Extra time? Penalties? I suspect this one will be done and dusted in 90 minutes plus stoppages (see Rochdale - York yesterday).”
Calum McFarlane’s pre-match thoughts
It’s been a difficult week. It’s never nice when a manager loses his job, but you have to be adapt and be ready for a big challenge like Leeds United in a semi-final.
We’ve tried to give the players what they need to be ready for this game – technically, tactically, psychologically. It’s about getting them in the right headspace, having a clear gameplan and hopefully executing it well.
[Do you see this as a showcase for you?] No, not really. It’s about doing a job for the club and the players; we’re here as interim staff to support them. If we can get a positive result today it will give us some momentum going into the last four Premier League games.
[Cole Palmer] was close to being fit enough to start but we decided it made more sense to have him on the bench.
Louise Taylor
The crate was crammed with bottles but Daniel Farke made light work of hoisting it on to a table and inviting everyone to help themselves. It was a little after 10.30 one night in April last year, an already-promoted Leeds had just beaten Bristol City, and the manager was offering journalists an end-of-season beer.
Such gestures are increasingly unusual in an ever-more corporate and sanitised sport, but Farke brings a human touch to proceedings. Indeed, his refreshingly down-to-earth approach is reminiscent of an illustrious title-winning predecessor. Behind a blunt exterior Howard Wilkinson was a caring manager who, spotting a journalist stranded outside Elland Road late one night, drove him home to Sheffield. It seems the sort of thing Farke might also do.
Coincidentally, Wilkinson and Farke are lovers of literary fiction who toyed with the idea of becoming novelists in their own right. While Wilkinson ultimately took a different path to his hero, DH Lawrence, Farke – a Gabriel García Márquez fan – wrote several chapters of a book before deeming it “crap” and shoving the manuscript in a drawer.
Today’s game is a repeat of the 1970 FA Cup final, when Chelsea pipped Leeds in a replay at Old Trafford. That game was among the filthiest known to mankind, and I urge you to relive it with Scott Murray’s retro MBM.
44 min: This is absolutely outrageous! Gray, back up, hobbles down the left. He doesn’t really want a pass from Giles, but gets one anyway. He goes to hoick the ball up the wing, away from personal danger, but it’s too late: Hutchinson comes sliding in, whipping Gray into the air like a greasy pancake. Recently injured, Gray understandably takes exception to this wild lunge. Less understandably, he responds by stamping on his assailant’s leg. Hutchinson springs up and punches Gray right on the tip of his front tail. Right in the trousers! Those are two sendings off, right there, though the referee does nothing whatsoever and play goes on.
Team news
Chelsea’s caretaker manager Calum McFarlane has made three changes to the side that lost heavily to Brighton. Tosin Adarabioyo, Alejandro Garnacho and the fit again Joao Pedro replace Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato and Liam Delap. Cole Palmer is among the subs.
Just one change for Leeds. Lucas Perri, the hero of their quarter-final victory at West Ham, replaces Karl Darlow in goal.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Tosin, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Garnacho; Joao Pedro.
Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Delap, Palmer, Essugo, Santos, Hato, Fofana, Acheampong, Derry.
Leeds (3-4-2-1) Perri; Justin, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Okafor; Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Darlow, Rodon, Bornauw, Longstaff, Stach, James, Gnonto, Piroe, Nmecha.
Referee Jarred Gillett
Jacob Steinberg
Given Chelsea supporters are pining for the old days, perhaps they can cheer themselves up by remembering glorious runs from some of the club’s previous interim managers, although whether Calum McFarlane is capable of emulating the likes of Guus Hiddink, Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benítez looks like a long shot as another damaging week for the BlueCo project draws to a close.
Is this inexperienced young coach the man for a salvage operation? Fans will take some convincing after watching Chelsea’s players not so much throw in the towel as not even bother to pick it up at all during Tuesday’s defeat to Brighton, which saw off Liam Rosenior. Those heading to Wembley for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Leeds will hope for a response but do not be surprised if they turn mutinous again.
Aaron Bower
It’s hard to believe this is Leeds’ first FA Cup semi-final since 1987, when they lost a thriller against Coventry. The last time they reached the final, Don Revie was manager.
Preamble
The beauty – the point – of most football matches is that we don’t know who’s going to win. In today’s FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Leeds, it’s not even clear who are the favourites to win.
Chelsea are Chelsea but they’re also Chelsea, without a permanent manager (insert your own joke here) and on a run of seven increasingly miserable defeats in eight. Leeds, despite being in a relegation battle for most of the season, are unbeaten in almost two months.
With the exception of Arsenal, Leeds have been excellent against the big boys this season. That includes the two league games against Chelsea: a narrative-changing 3-1 win in December and a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in February.
The winners will play Manchester City on Saturday 16 May. Just don’t ask me who it’ll be.
Kick off 3pm.
