Pascal Struijk has said what many Leeds United fans will be thinking, and crucially, he has backed it up with evidence after the Whites were drawn against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Leeds United are heading to Wembley after a dramatic penalty shootout win over West Ham, and it was Struijk who stepped up to score the decisive spot-kick. Now, attention turns to Chelsea in the semi-final.
The Leeds defender has made it clear this is not a tie his side should approach with fear. Leeds have earned the right to believe.
Speaking after the win, Struijk pointed directly to Leeds’ recent record against Chelsea as a reason for confidence, rather than relying on empty optimism.
OUT OF 10: What chance do Leeds have of winning The FA Cup?
The semi-finals await Leeds!
“If you look at the league, I think we have two good results against Chelsea, so, I do not want to say anything really, but hopefully we can do it the third time.
“After our last experience at Wembley, we want to make a better one. When we go there, we will try and do our best to get good memories.”
That is not a player getting carried away. It is a measured view, grounded in what Leeds have already produced against the same opponent.
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
Struijk’s words matter even more given the moment he has just delivered. This is not theory. This is coming from the player who held his nerve when it mattered most.
Leeds United deal with pressure when other teams crumble
Leeds’ route to Wembley was far from straightforward. They led West Ham 2-0 before being pulled back to 2-2, a scenario that could easily have derailed them. Instead, they reset and delivered in the shootout.
West Ham United v Leeds United - Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final
Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images
Too often, teams in Leeds’ position are defined by how they respond when momentum turns against them. Here, they showed both vulnerability and resilience in the same game.
Struijk’s penalty was the clearest example of that composure. No hesitation, no drama, just a clean finish to send Leeds through. That moment shifts the narrative heading into the Chelsea tie.
This is no longer just a side that has reached a semi-final. It is a side that has proven it can handle pressure when the stakes rise.
Leeds will have to push Southampton memories aside
Struijk’s second point is just as important. Leeds are not going to Wembley weighed down by history. They are going there to correct it, having suffered defeat to Southampton in the 23-24 play-off final.
His reference to wanting “better memories” is telling. It frames the semi-final as an opportunity rather than a burden. That mindset matters more than any external label attached to the tie.
LEEDS ARE IN THE FA CUP SEMI-FINALS!
Who was your Man of the Match?
Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images
Leeds are not approaching this as a free hit. They are going there with a clear intention to perform and to change the outcome from their last experience on that stage.
It keeps the focus exactly where it should be, on Leeds’ own standards rather than the reputation of their opponent. Leeds have earned this belief, there is no need to overstate anything here.
Leeds have just come through a high-pressure quarter-final, recovered from conceding late goals, and delivered when it mattered. They have a player in Struijk who has backed up his words decisively.
And, as he pointed out, they have already shown they can produce results against Chelsea. That does not guarantee anything at Wembley. But it does mean this is not blind hope or underdog rhetoric.
It is belief built on evidence.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox