Daniel Farke believes Chelsea will return to their "free-flowing best" in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final after the club sacked head coach Liam Rosenior. The Blues dismissed Rosenior less than 24 hours after Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at Brighton, a result that confirmed a fifth consecutive Premier League loss and their worst run without scoring since 1912.
The Leeds United manager expressed sympathy for his counterpart, saying Rosenior, who was appointed less than four months ago on a six-and-a-half-year contract, would have a significant career in management. "You always feel for a manager and you don't want a manager to lose his job," Farke said.
With first-team coach Calum McFarlane taking charge until the end of the season, Farke expects a reaction from a squad he describes as one of the most talented in world football. "It could feel like a fresh start for the players," he said, adding that Chelsea could be "a really, really dangerous side" when their top-class players show the basics.
Leeds have already beaten Chelsea 3-1 at Elland Road and fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Stamford Bridge this season. Farke acknowledged his side are underdogs but insisted they have a chance in a one-off cup tie. He also noted that recent league form matters little in a semi-final, despite Chelsea fans directing criticism at co-owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly.
