Key Takeaways
- Leeds United play Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
- Manager Daniel Farke hopes to become only the second Leeds boss to reach the FA Cup final after Don Revie.
- The club wants to use this match as a step to return to the top level of English football.
Leeds United fans will feel both excited and nervous when they travel to Wembley Stadium this weekend. Their team faces Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday. The famous ground brings back sad memories for the club. However, this match could bring a brighter future.
The Yorkshire club has lost on its last three visits to Wembley. You must go back to 1992 for their last win there. That year, they beat Liverpool in the Charity Shield. Stars like Gordon Strachan, Gary McAllister and Eric Cantona played in that match.
Wembley reminds fans of heartbreak. The most recent pain came in 2024. Leeds lost 1-0 to Southampton in the Championship play-off final. That loss was hard to take. Many people thought the club would fire manager Daniel Farke after that defeat.
The club decided to keep Farke. This choice proved wise. Farke led Leeds to the Championship title the next season with 100 points. Now the team plays in the Premier League. They have 40 points this season and are practically safe from relegation.
“In sport you cannot just take the days when the sun is shining,” Farke said. “You have to take the difficult days. Normally 90 points means automatic promotion. In other seasons it would be enough. It was heartbreaking to experience that day in 2024. But the day after we started to work again.”
This is Leeds’ first FA Cup semi-final since 1987. A win would make Farke only the second manager in the club’s history to take them to the final. The first was Don Revie in 1970. That final was also against Chelsea. Leeds also reached finals in 1972 and 1973.
This occasion is very important for the whole club. Victory would likely speed up plans to return Leeds to the top level of English football.
Farke spoke to reporters this week at the club’s Thorp Arch training ground. He talked about improving the facilities there. “I was shocked when I walked in,” he said. “Thorp Arch is one of our cornerstones. We must develop young players. That is crucial for us.”
“We need a top-class training ground. With all respect, it was League One level. I could not understand how every penny went into salaries. It was important that at least a little part goes into something you cannot see straight away. This is important for the medium and long-term. I need to win the next game but I want to build something. Perhaps I am not there in five or ten years. But this is what I want to do.”
Farke added: “It is important that when it is time to leave, I want the club to be in a way better position. So far it has worked for all of my clubs. We have a clear plan on what we want to do and how to achieve it.”