Leeds United travel down to Wembley this weekend as the FA Cup semi-final awaits, facing Chelsea in a mouthwatering tie.
Leeds’ season could not be going much better than it is right now. If someone offered at the start of the season for Leeds to be nine clear of the bottom three in 15th, with four games left, alongside beating them lot at Old Trafford, and an FA Cup semi-final, you’d have snapped their hand off.
It’s a testament to Daniel Farke to overcome this adversity and deliver what could be a historic campaign at Elland Road.
Leeds United team news confirmed pre-Chelsea in FA Cup: Ilia Gruev season over, Jayden Bogle slight doubt
The major news coming from Farke’s pre-match press conference on Thursday was Ilia Gruev’s gutting knee injury. It’s been confirmed that the midfielder is out for the rest of the campaign with a meniscus setback, hopefully back for the start of pre-season.
Elsewhere, Jayden Bogle took a hefty tackle from teammate Ethan Ampadu and was nursing a foot issue as he was hooked at half-time against Bournemouth. Farke suggested that he’s likely to be fit, but is one to keep an eye on.
Additionally, Sebastiaan Bornauw rolled his ankle in the warm-up on Wednesday. As a result, he’s a doubt for the game after missing training.
Here, I predict the lineup for Leeds’ FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Sunday…
Goalkeeper: Lucas Perri
Farke has already confirmed his decision between the sticks, and it’s the right call in my opinion.
Lucas Perri will start in goal, and rightly so after being the main reason we’re going to Wembley. Two penalty shootout triumphs came thanks to his saves at Birmingham and West Ham, plus miraculous saves at the London Stadium too.
Playing at Wembley is a huge occasion for Perri and he deserves this after an incredibly tough season since joining for £15.6million.
The Brazilian has so far been able to step up to the big stage with these shootout heroics. Hopefully, he’s up to the task on Sunday.
Defence: Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, Pascal Struijk
The second change in this side for me comes at centre-back, as I think Farke will go with Joe Rodon on the right side of the three.
How he’s recovered from ankle ligament damage within the space of a fortnight, I’ll never know. I guess the ‘Welsh warrior’ tag Farke uses for the £10million defender is true, the guy is superhuman. Given the space on a Wembley pitch in transition, I think that Rodon’s recovery pace without the ball could be huge, on top of his set piece threat.
Elsewhere, Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk obviously keep their place as the bedrock of Leeds’ success this calendar year.
It’s nice to see that Struijk’s brilliance is being widely recognised amongst the Leeds fanbase now. He’s been outstanding and deserves so much credit.
Midfield: James Justin, Ao Tanaka, Ethan Ampadu, Gabriel Gudmundsson
With Rodon coming in at centre-back, I’m expecting that Bogle could be the one to drop out after his injury and sub-par showing at Bournemouth. That said, I don’t think we should hold one poor display against anyone in this team. That’s especially true of Bogle, who’s been one of our most consistent players for two seasons, and deserves to start.
But, his slight injury might mean he’s not risked, leaving James Justin to put out to wing-back. Justin’s versatility this season has been such a core asset, he’s done a job wherever – I still think right-centre-back is clearly his best role.
Elsewhere, I’m expecting us to be unchanged due to the lack of midfield options, so Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu will be looking to assert dominance over Chelsea like they did at Elland Road in December.
Those two had to cope with an incredibly intense Bournemouth press on Wednesday. Sunday won’t be the same, and if they can stamp their mark, we have a great chance.
At left-wing-back, Gabriel Gudmundsson could have a lot of running in store on this vast Wembley pitch. Should he hold down the left as he often does, we’re in a great spot.
Forwards: Brenden Aaronson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Noah Okafor
Noah Okafor has stepped up to the plate in a big way since the survival scrap heated up in February. Important games have brought massive moments from the Swiss winger. If anyone’s going to send Leeds to the final, you would not be shocked if it’s Okafor.
Again, the wide open pitch suits a player with his confidence. He gets at his marker consistently, and he could be the one to keep us off our seats on Sunday.
Out on the right, I’m expecting Brenden Aaronson to stay in the side. Fans might clamour for Willy Gnonto to start after his impact at Bournemouth, and understandably so. But, this game isn’t the one to start experimenting away from what we’ve done so well this month.
Aaronson is obviously crucial to our out-of-possession and Farke won’t overthink his role.
Up front, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will lead the line.
And, he should fancy himself to impose his game on Chelsea centre-backs that aren’t up for the fight at the moment.
Full Leeds United predicted XI for FA Cup semi-final vs Chelsea
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