Chelsea vs Leeds LIVE: FA Cup fifth round result and reaction as Conor Gallagher nets dramatic winner
Chelsea 3-2 Leeds: Gallagher’s goal sends the Blues into the quarter-finals after a tight contest against the Whites
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Chelsea responded to their defeat in the Carabao Cup final with a determined and steadfast performance at Stamford Bridge to defeat Leeds.
The visitors started the more aggressive team and took advantage of an Axel Disasi mistake to notch up the first goal as Mateo Joseph slotted home past the restored Robert Sanchez inside the opening 10 minutes. However, it wasn’t long before Nicolas Jackson found the equaliser with a smooth finish from the right side of the box.
Chelsea then took the lead through Mykhailo Mudryk who excelled in the No. 10 role throughout the night. After the break, Chelsea started slowly once more and again they were punished. Joseph leaping behind Trevoh Chalobah to nod home an equaliser.
Things were level for almost 20 minutes until Conor Gallagher, freshly brought on from the bench, spun away from Junior Firpo to lift a shot over Illan Meslier and send Chelsea into the quarter-finals.
Relive the action below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Chelsea want to win every competition says Pochettino
“Of course, we wanted to win the Carabao Cup, like we want to win the FA Cup, we want to win the Premier League, we want to win every competition,” said Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino.
“That is always the objective at the start of the season, but now the reality is to see if we can qualify to play in Europe next season. It is going to be tough, because of the circumstances and because of the reality.
“Our responsibility is always to match expectations, but the problem is when expectations and reality are not close. When they are close it is easy. We are working hard so that people trust in us, but we need to be patient because we are building in a different way to succeed and always it is about time.
“The owners arrived with the right intention and they want to build something different from the past, which we need to understand. We are part of this and want to move this project forward. We have ups and downs, but it is only the beginning.”
Chelsea vs Leeds
Enzo Fernandez scored in both of Chelsea’s FA Cup wins this season, netting in the third round against Preston and a fourth round replay at Aston Villa. The last player to score in each of the third, fourth, and fifth rounds of a single FA Cup campaign was for the club was Pedro in 2016/17.
Chelsea vs Leeds
Leeds United are looking to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002/03. They have been eliminated from the competition three times at this stage since then including a 2-0 loss to Fulham last season.
Chelsea vs Leeds
Chelsea have progressed from 13 of their 15 FA Cup fifth round ties, failing only against Manchester City in 2013/14 and Manchester United in 2018/19.
The latter of which was their last home defeat in the FA Cup.
Mauricio Pochettino hits out at ‘annoying’ talk of Chelsea’s ‘billion-pound spending’
Mauricio Pochettino finds constant talk of Chelsea’s billion-pound spend tiresome and remains convinced his under-fire players will develop into “an amazing team”.
Blues boss Pochettino has overseen an underwhelming campaign since arriving at Stamford Bridge last summer and his expensively-assembled squad faced further criticism following Sunday’s Carabao Cup final loss to Liverpool.
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville branded them “blue billion-pound bottle jobs” late in their 1-0 extra-time defeat to opponents deprived of a host of star names due to injury.
Mauricio Pochettino hits out at ‘annoying’ talk of Chelsea’s ‘billion-pound spending’
Pochettino is confident he retains the backing of Chelsea’s owners ahead of Wednesday’s FA Cup tie at home to Leeds
Chelsea vs Leeds
Leeds have lost their last six away games at Chelsea with each match coming in the Premier League between 2002 to 2023. The Whites’ last such win at Stamford Bridge was in December 1999 when they triumphed 2-0.
Chelsea vs Leeds
This will be the first FA Cup tie between Chelsea and Leeds United since the 1970 final, which the Blues won after a replay. Chelsea have never lost in eight previous FA Cup games against Leeds with five wins and three draws.
Chelsea vs Leeds
When Leeds were in the Premier League last season goals from Brenden Aaronson, Rodrigo and Jack Harrison earned the Whites a deserved three points at Elland Road as they romped to a 3-0 victory over Chelsea.
At Stamford Bridge it was Wesley Fofana’s header which separated the two sides and inflicted another away defeat on Leeds.
Jurgen Klopp defends Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea from Gary Neville’s ‘bottle jobs’ tag
Jurgen Klopp has sprung to Chelsea’s defence by insisting they did not “bottle it” in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team came in for heavy criticism after losing in extra time to a Liverpool side featuring the teenagers Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Jayden Danns and doing too little to win the game after Klopp brought on rookies.
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville branded the big spenders “blue billion-pound bottle jobs” but Klopp disagreed with that assessment.
Klopp defends Pochettino and Chelsea from Neville’s ‘bottle jobs’ tag
Liverpool manager pointed to his own experience in cup finals after disagreeing with Gary Neville’s assessment
Chelsea vs Leeds team changes
Mauricio Pochettino makes five changes from the Chelsea team that started the Carabao Cup final with Robert Sanchez, Alfie Gilchrist, Trevoh Chalobah, Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk all coming in.
For Leeds, Daniel Farke also makes five changes as Daniel James, Jaidon Anthony, Connor Roberts, Liam Cooper and Mateo Joseph are brought into the team.
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