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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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:
READ MORE:
Thomas Tuchel mocks Thiago Silva’s off-pitch celebrations during Chelsea’s win over Atletico Madrid
Is Chelsea vs Sheffield United on TV today? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch FA Cup fixture
Confirmation of the two FA Cup semi-finals:
Leicester City vs Southampton
Chelsea vs Manchester City
What we learned
Leicester vs Manchester United: Five things we learned as Kelechi Iheanacho knocks Red Devils out of FA Cup
Leicester 3-1 Man United: Iheanacho and Greenwood swapped first-half strikes before Tielemans’ fine effort and Iheanacho’s second sent the Foxes through
Pressure on Ole
Fan pressure is going to start mounting on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. #OleOut is trending on Twitter after Manchester United were knocked out of the FA Cup. The Europa League has suddenly got way more important for the Man Utd manager. The fans will expect him to win that one.
Reaction from Iheanacho
I can’t express the feeling - I feel great and the whole team are happy. We were waiting for this time and we’re into the FA Cup semi-final for the first time [in almost 40 years] so we’re happy. We focus on the next game and hopefully we can get to the final.
“We worked really well in training to get ready for this game - tactically we worked hard. We really felt ready to go and we passed the ball very well and got in open spaces and got the runs and the goals.
“I’m enjoying it - I just need to focus and keep going. It’s not easy to get an opportunity but I think I am taking mine - I just need to keep working hard every day and they opportunities will keep coming.”
Tielemans speaks to BBC Sport
It was a really good team performance.
“Everyone worked together. Everyone was talking, everyone was positive. Thats’s what we need to win these type of games.
“It was a very hard game and I think we did brilliant.
“I saw the space and ran into it. I tried to keep the ball low with my shot and put it into the corner [for his goal]. It helped the team and Kelechi did brilliantly [to score the third]. We worked hard to keep the lines together.
“Kelechi is a good character, always happy. He’s very shy. The scream [at the end of his BBC interview] is all the enjoyment coming out.”
Match report
Kelechi Iheanacho brace sends Leicester to Wembley after win over listless Manchester United
Leicester 3-1 Man United: The Foxes reach the FA Cup semi-final after goals from Iheanacho (2) and Tielemans
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