Leeds United will face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday, according to multiple reports. The club is one step away from its first FA Cup final since 1973. Leeds' only FA Cup final victory was in 1972, when they beat Arsenal with a goal by Allan Clarke. The club last lifted a trophy at Wembley in 1992, winning the Charity Shield against Liverpool.
Daniel Farke, who secured the Championship title with Leeds last spring, has led the team to this stage. Farke once offered journalists an end-of-season beer after Leeds secured promotion in April last year, and he wrote several chapters of a book before deeming it 'crap' and abandoning it. Leeds chair Paraag Marathe declared 'Daniel's our man' after a boardroom argument following promotion.
This is only Leeds' fourth top-tier season in 22 years. Gordon Strachan joined Leeds from Manchester United for £300,000 in March 1989, when the club finished 10th in the old Second Division. Leeds won the third league title in their history three years after Strachan joined, having not been in the top flight since 1982 before his arrival.
Ethan Ampadu captained Leeds in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. He helped Chelsea reach the Europa League final in 2019 but did not play in the final. Ampadu joined Leeds in a £7m deal in 2023. Leeds lost the Championship play-off final to Southampton in his first season. He was in the Wales side that lost 3-0 to England at Wembley in October.
Lucas Perri saved penalties in the shootout at West Ham to help Leeds progress in the FA Cup. He trained with Joao Pedro and Estevao in the Brazil squad in September. According to Daily Mirror - Main, Perri believes Leeds can win the FA Cup.
Farke claims it is unrealistic for Leeds to win the FA Cup, according to The Guardian - Football. In late November, Leeds were 2-0 down at half-time against Manchester City, but Farke switched to a 3-5-2 formation and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored seven goals in six games, leading to 28 points from 20 games.
Howard Wilkinson once drove a journalist home to Sheffield after spotting him stranded outside Elland Road, according to major media. It is unknown what formation Farke will use against Chelsea, whether Ampadu will start, and how many Leeds fans are expected to travel to Wembley.