Leeds United are gearing up for a huge occasion as they take on Chelsea in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley later today.
It marks Leeds’ first appearance at this stage of the competition in almost 40 years, and they now have a real chance to reach the final for the first time in over half a century.
They come up against a Chelsea side struggling badly, having lost their last five Premier League games without scoring and parting ways with their manager just last week.
Despite all of that, Daniel Farke has continued to play down expectations, insisting his team are still the underdog heading into the clash, even against a Chelsea side going through one of the worst runs in their history.
Joe Coles makes a ridiculous Leeds claim ahead of the Chelsea clash
Joe Cole was on The Dressing Room podcast in the build-up to the big semi-final between Chelsea and Leeds at Wembley today.
The former Blue was asked to compare the current Chelsea team to an all-time Leeds XI, and he made some outrageous picks during the segment.
He picked Marc Cucurella over Leeds legend Ian Harte, which is a ridiculous choice given how inconsistent a defender the Spaniard has been since he joined Chelsea.
Cole also favoured Enzo Fernandes and Moises Caicedo over Gary Speed and David Batty. However, they were not his most ridiculous pick yet.
The former Chelsea star believes young forward Joao Pedro is ahead of Leeds legend Mark Viduka, which is an outrageous suggestion at this stage of the Brazilian’s career.
He did pick a few obvious former Leeds stars over certain members of the current Chelsea team. However, he couldn’t put his blue glasses down for too long.
Cole may have to watch his former side lose today
Chelsea have struggled against Daniel Farke’s Leeds United this season. They were beaten 3-1 at Elland Road and then held to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in February.
Leeds have taken full advantage of those encounters, picking up four points from a possible six against a long-standing rival.
The tone around this semi-final has shifted, though, especially after Chelsea decided to part ways with Liam Rosenior. That decision has led many to reassess how the game at Wembley might unfold.
Semi-finals always bring pressure, and Chelsea still have players experienced in big moments. But their recent dip in form, concerns over confidence and fitness, along with the managerial change, have created a sense of uncertainty.
Those earlier results will not be forgotten, and Leeds will go into the match confident they can get the job done. At this point, they are increasingly being seen as slight favourites to edge past the Blues.
