Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Leeds United at Wembley Stadium. The winner will face Manchester City, who secured their place in the final with a narrow 2-1 victory over Southampton in yesterday’s other semi-final.
McFarlane Takes the Helm
Calum McFarlane has been thrust back into the spotlight as Chelsea’s interim head coach following the abrupt dismissal of Liam Rosenior. Rosenior was sacked after less than four months in charge, with Tuesday’s heavy defeat at Brighton proving to be the final straw for the club’s hierarchy. McFarlane previously served as interim boss after Enzo Maresca’s departure in January and now faces the daunting task of overcoming an in-form Leeds side under the Wembley arch.
The decision to part ways with Rosenior speaks volumes about the current state of Chelsea, as they hope the move proves well-advised in their quest for silverware.
Leeds in Fine Form
Daniel Farke’s Leeds United are riding a wave of momentum, having stunned Manchester United at Old Trafford, dispatched Wolves, and snatched a late draw at Bournemouth. They are on the brink of securing Premier League survival and will look to carry that form into what is their first FA Cup semi-final appearance since 1987.
Stay tuned for build-up, team news, and the latest updates from Wembley.
