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Chelsea’s newly appointed interim manager Calum McFarlane believes the team retain enough belief to arrest their shocking slide in recent times, when they take on Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.
McFarlane was handed the reins on Wednesday after the Blues sacked Liam Rosenior following five straight losses without scoring a goal. Their league form has severely dented their chances of securing Champions League football next season, but success in the FA Cup would bring much needed relief amidst a topsy-turvy campaign.
Calum McFarlane
“There’s still a lot of belief in this group. I know it’s been tough recently, but we’ve had some good games this year, good performances against top sides in recent history. So there’s a lot of talent. Some of those players in there [locker room] are some of the best players in the world for their position, so there’s still a belief within us that we can turn this around and get our season back on track,’ said the English coach.
The Blues will take further positives from the fact that they have never lost to Leeds in six FA Cup ties so far. Star forwards Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro also returned to training and are likely to feature on Sunday.
However, Leeds have beaten Chelsea twice in their previous five EPL encounters, and boss Daniel Farke said his team will stick to their guns in order to cause an upset.
“We face a big name and play a side packed with top class players and unbelievable potential. We will stick to our DNA. We have to be brave, play on the front foot and threaten the opponents. In a one-off game there’s always a chance [to win],” said the German coach.
Six
No. of times Chelsea have beaten Leeds Utd in six FA Cup ties
10
No. of wins for Chelsea in their last 12 FA Cup matches at Wembley Stadium
20
No. of goals scored by Chelsea in four FA Cup games this season
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