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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A long wait
Leicester hold the unenviable record for most FA Cup final appearances without winning the trophy. The last of their four finals came in 1969.
The Foxes have not reached the FA Cup semi-finals since 1982; they have since lost five quarter-finals, the last three of them all against Chelsea (2012, 2018, 2020).
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Cup specialists
Manchester United have gone 29 away games without defeat in all domestic competitions with 21 wins and eight draws. They have won the FA Cup 12 times, second only to Arsenal’s 14 and the Red Devils are looking to reach the semi-finals for a record 31st time, surpassing Arsenal.
Tough ask for Leicester
Each of Leicester’s eight goals in the FA Cup this season has been scored by a different player. The Foxes have lost seven of their 16 domestic home games this season, although they’ve won five out of seven in 2021.
Brendan Rodgers meanwhile has lost 11 of his 14 meetings with Man Utd, failing to win any of the last seven.
Solskjaer talks trophies
Sometimes it [winning trophies] can hide the fact what you’re doing in the background but I feel we are improving all the time and getting closer and to win a trophy would be a boost for everyone.
“We’ve had this before when we won the Carling Cup in 2006 with Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra, their first wins and it was the first of many. We feel or hope a trophy can be a catalyst of more to come.”
Rodgers talks to BBC One
We’ve got to make a good start. When you’ve had a midweek European game it’s important that you can start well and be aggressive without the ball.
“When you can’t press the game we’ve got to be compact and defend well because we know the quality that they have going forward. I’m confident we can create chances and, if they come, be clinical.”
Solskjaer on Leicester
We expect them to be a tough challenge, very technically good team, pace up front, scoring goals. Coming back from Italy we needed to make a few changes but we’re up for it - we want to come here and do what we’ve done the last few times we’ve been here because we’ve done well.”
Here come the teams, Leicester lead the way out onto the pitch closely followed by Man Utd. It’s the second placed Premier League side vs the third placed team in what should be an interesting match up. Kick off is next.
Leicester 0 - 0 Man Utd
Kick off: Brendon Rodgers takes charge of his 100th game as Leicester City boss, will he be celebrating tonight for a semi-final place in the FA Cup? Lets find out. Donny van de Beek gets the game underway for Man Utd.
Leicester 0 - 0 Man Utd
3 mins: Aaron Wan-Bissaka uses Fred and Mason Greenwood as help to work the ball towards the 18 yard box from the right wing. Fred attempts to chip the ball in behind for the Man Utd right-back but a back-tracking Ayoze Perez intercepts the pass and clears.
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