Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton has shared his prediction for the Blues’ upcoming FA Cup fifth-round clash against Leeds United on Wednesday (February 28).
After suffering a heart-wrenching 1-0 defeat in extra time to Liverpool in the EFL Cup final on Sunday, Mauricio Pochettino’s side faces a quick turnaround as they prepare for another crucial fixture.
Despite their disappointment, Chelsea must swiftly shift their focus to securing a spot in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. In the previous round, they emerged victorious against Aston Villa, while Leeds overcame Plymouth Argyle.
Sutton believes that Chelsea will bounce back from their cup final setback and emerge triumphant in this encounter. In his BBC prediction column, he stated:
“Chelsea need to win this, after the way they lost the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. Their display in extra time let them down against Liverpool’s kids, when they had the chance to have a go at them.”
While acknowledging Leeds’ strong performance under manager Farke this season, Sutton suggested that Leeds might prioritize their promotion bid over this cup tie. He added:
“Leeds are going very well under Farke, but he might prioritise their promotion bid over this tie. I hope he doesn’t, but this is one of the rare occasions where I would understand if he makes some changes, because of how tight it is at the top of the Championship – they have got Ipswich and Southampton breathing down their necks, but will also feel like they can catch Leicester.”
Sutton foresees a 2-0 victory for Chelsea, emphasizing the pressure on Mauricio Pochettino if they fail to secure the win. Reflecting on a past encounter between Chelsea and Leeds, he concluded:
“It is really unfortunate because otherwise, Leeds could have a real go at this. The pressure is all on Chelsea, and, if they don’t win, it is really going to mount on their manager Mauricio Pochettino.
I remember being part of a Chelsea team that lost 2-0 to Leeds at Stamford Bridge in the year I was there – thinking back, it was probably largely down to me. I’m going with the same scoreline again, but a home win this time.”
Chelsea’s early exit from the competition last year serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of cup football.
