Chelsea vs Sheffield United LIVE: Result and reaction from FA Cup fixture today
The Blues are looking for two cup victories this week after easing past Atletico Madrid in the Champions League
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea host Sheffield United with both teams targeting a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
While the Blues have been riding high under Thomas Tuchel, with their unbeaten streak now stretching to 13 games after comfortably beating Atletico Madrid this week to advance to the quarter-final of the Champions League.
Blades have suffered a different experience, with Chris Wilder’s departure and relegation staring them in the face, but the FA Cup provides a welcome distraction after being thumped by Leicester last time out.
The Blues will likely shuffled the pack, as has been common under Tuchel so far, but despite the progress since Frank Lampard’s departure, the former PSG and Borussia Dortmund coach is aware he needs to find the right balance between defence and attack with more cutting edge in the final third: “We lack some precision in the final third and some goals, but we’ve never lacked the work-rate against the ball, touches in the box, shots.
“Maybe we lacked composure but that’s our fault because we work so hard against the ball. It’s about balance and I believe we have that balance in how the players feel.
“We’ll never stop to think about how to create chances, offensive solutions, where to create spaces and to accelerate our attacks. But we also think about counter-pressing.”
Follow live updates from Stamford Bridge, including build-up, analysis and reaction on a big day of football, with the final quarter-final, Leicester vs Manchester United, later on:
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Resurgence
Chelsea have now won 10 of their 14 games under Thomas Tuchel with four draws. Only Manchester City (14) have won more matches across all competitions amongst all sides in the top five European leagues since the German’s first game in charge.
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More from Tuchel
We let them come back because we had full control in first half and second half a big chance with Christian Pulisic to finish the game early. We made too many easy mistakes and lost duels and lost some momentum.
“I could tell in training we were tired and there was a lack of concentration. That can happen sometimes it gets harder to keep the level up - I’m happy we could help from the bench and in the end we have the win so we take that.”
Match report
Hakim Ziyech adds shine to Chelsea win over Blades to reach semi-finals
Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United: An Oliver Norwood own-goal put the Blues on their way before the Moroccan’s late second
Leicester vs Man Utd
Up next in the FA Cup Leicester City host Manchester United as they both seek to join Southampton, Chelsea and Manchester City in the semi-finals.
The team news is imminent...
Team news - Changes
Brendan Rodgers makes just one change to his Leicester team that defeated Sheffield United 5-0 last time out. Ricardo Pereira drops out with Marc Albrighton replacing him.
There are more sweeping changes for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United. Alex Telles replaces Luke Shaw at left-back and Nemanja Matic partners Fred in midfield. Paul Pogba starts as does Donny van de Beek but there’s no place for Bruno Fernandes who starts on the bench. Marcus Rashford is injured but Anthony Martial is fit again and he comes in. Edinson Cavani makes the bench.
Recent results
Leicester City are unbeaten in three consecutive matches since a 1-3 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League. Before that they were knocked out of the Europa League after losing 0-2 at home Slavia Prague which means the FA Cup is the Foxes last chance at silverware this season. They’re relatively comfortable in the league sitting in third just behind Manchester United and come into the game on the back of a 5-0 victory over Sheffield United.
Manchester United are undefeated in 14 games. A run which has put them second in the Premier League and seen them advance to the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Last time out the Red Devils put in a professional display to defeat AC Milan 0-1 away from home and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will want to continue that form into today’s crucial match against Leicester.
Rodgers praises Iheanacho
Leicester boss, Brendan Rodgers, praised striker Kelechi Iheanacho after he scored his first Premier League hat-trick against Sheffield United last time out. He said:
Kelechi has got huge personality. He respects his life as a footballer, respect his friendships he has within the team and appreciates all the support he gets from everyone.
“He trains so hard and is like any player, when they are confident they play the game to a new level and another dimension. That is where he is at. He has been really productive but he knows he has to continue with that.
“He plays with a smile on his face, very rarely does he miss training. There have been some performances when he hasn’t been at his most confident but he gives his all.”
Head-to-head
Leicester’s only win in the last 25 meetings between the side (spanning 23 years) - was a 5-3 victory at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League in September 2014. They’ve lost 19 games and drawn five.
The win was their solitary home victory over United in 14 attempts.
The Red Devils have won both previous FA Cup meetings: 3-1 in the 1963 final and 2-1 away in the fifth round in 1975/76.
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