Chelsea took another heavy hit on Tuesday night, going down 3-0 to Brighton, and it has only added to the doubts ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United.
Liam Rosenior’s side are now on a five-game losing streak in the Premier League without scoring, their worst run in 114 years, which hardly inspires confidence going into such a big occasion.
Leeds, in contrast, have beaten Manchester United and Wolves in their last two matches and will head into the semi-final in high spirits, regardless of what happens against Bournemouth later tonight.
The Whites are now being tipped as the favourites to beat the Blues on Sunday, and one decorated former Chelsea player is unsure about the confidence in the squad ahead of the big game.
Gary Cahill makes honest claim ahead of Leeds vs Chelsea showdown
Chelsea are on a historic run of bad form, and Liam Rosenior has not convinced anyone that he is going to turn things around ahead of the semi-final clash.
Gary Cahill, who was part of Premier League and Champions League-winning teams at Chelsea, believes Leeds may be licking their lips ahead of the big game at Wembley.
He feels this Chelsea team look completely drained of any confidence and momentum, and the coaching staff have a huge task in hand if they are to turn a corner ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Cahill said on Sky Sports: “Leeds are probably watching this and thinking, ‘we have got a wounded animal here, and we have got a chance in the semi-final.
“Chelsea are going into a semi-final against Leeds, no disrespect, with an opportunity to get into a final.
“They should be licking their lips, ready to go, but this is a wounded Chelsea squad.
“Confidence and momentum are big things, so going into tomorrow’s training, it’s not the same vibe when you are on a good run or the back of a good result.
“It’s going to be a tough few days for the manager and the squad to galvanise themselves and get fired up for this semi-final.
“The FA Cup is now a must-win to save their season.”
Daniel Farke’s team are now the favourite
Chelsea have struggled against Leeds this season, losing 3-1 at Elland Road late last year before being held to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in February.
Leeds, for their part, have enjoyed those meetings, picking up four points from a possible six against one of their traditional rivals.
That said, a Wembley semi-final is a very different kind of challenge, and Chelsea may have the advantage when it comes to players who are used to dealing with high-pressure situations.
Even so, those earlier results will still be in the back of everyone’s mind. Leeds will go into the game confident that they can get the better of a Chelsea side currently struggling with form, confidence and fitness.
As things stand, Leeds are surprisingly heading into the FA Cup clash as favourites to beat the Blues.
