Chelsea vs. Leeds team news: A look back at Calum McFarlane's two Blues XIs, prediction for FA Cup semi-final

Once Chelsea announced that Liam Rosenior had been sacked connected Wednesday evening, Calum McFarlane was near to absorption connected yet different mammoth crippled successful interim charge.

When Enzo Maresca near Stamford Bridge connected New Year's Day, the then-Under-21s brag was thrown into the limelight for distant matches against Manchester City and West London neighbours Fulham.

After his elder managerial bow came against Pep Guardiola and his 2nd fixture being a London derby, McFarlane present takes complaint of an FA Cup semi-final versus Leeds United connected Sunday afternoon.

Given the mode of Chelsea's show successful the 3-0 decision to Brighton & Hove Albion connected Tuesday, alterations are inevitable, albeit immoderate babelike connected players recovering from injury.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look backmost astatine McFarlane's archetypal 2 squad selections to effort to find whether determination are immoderate clues up of him naming his starting lineup for the Wembley Stadium showpiece.

Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea (January 4, 2026)

Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Chalobah, Badiashile, Gusto; James, Fernandez; Estevao, Palmer, Neto; Pedro

Subs introduced: Hato, Santos, Delap

With Robert Sanchez and Marc Cucurella sidelined done wounded and Moises Caicedo suspended, McFarlane's archetypal Chelsea XI had an unfamiliar look to it.

Malo Gusto was preferred to Jorrel Hato arsenic Cucurella's replacement, and with Reece James deputising for Caicedo successful midfield, Josh Acheampong was provided with a commencement astatine right-back.

Benoit Badiashile besides started up of Wesley Fofana, who was not selected successful the squad, portion McFarlane named arguably Chelsea's strongest attacking players successful the last third.

The biggest interaction arguably came from Andrey Santos, who was introduced for Estevao Willian astatine fractional clip to diagnostic alongside James successful the motor room.

As good arsenic the Brazil planetary being instrumental successful starting Chelsea's attacks and halting Man City's, it allowed Fernandez to play further guardant and yet people a deserved last-gasp equaliser.

Fulham 2-1 Chelsea (January 7, 2026)

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Adarabioyo, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Delap

Subs introduced: Hato, James, Pedro, Acheampong

Such was Santos' impact, the fig of returning players and three-day turnaround that McFarlane made six changes for the travel to play Fulham astatine Craven Cottage.

Gusto got the motion implicit Acheampong astatine right-back, portion Tosin Adarabioyo came successful for Badiashile, with Fofana lone named arsenic a substitute.

However, McFarlane's plans were ripped up erstwhile Cucurella was sent disconnected successful the 22nd minute. Hato was introduced astatine left-back with Santos making way.

Liam Delap started this crippled and netted his lone Premier League extremity of the play successful the 2nd half. It remains the past clip that helium scored for Chelsea.

Predicted Chelsea XI vs. Leeds United

Across the aforementioned double-header, lone Gusto, Chalobah, Fernandez, Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto started some games.

Ahead of Sunday, Palmer is simply a fittingness uncertainty owed to a hamstring issue, portion Gusto's enactment is acold from guaranteed aft failing to impressment against Brighton.

Of the players who did not commencement against the Seagulls, Acheampong and Santos volition beryllium astir assured of earning recalls to the side.

In theory, the astir intriguing determination comes astatine centre-back and who volition spouse Chalobah. Badiashile is improbable to beryllium available, Adarabioyo has not started against Premier League oregon Champions League absorption since January 17 and Fofana was an unused substitute successful McFarlane's 2nd game.

There is besides the anticipation of Acheampong starting alongside Chalobah, but McFarlane whitethorn person reservations aft the academy postgraduate mislaid his mode during the 2nd fractional of February's 2-2 gully versus Leeds.

With the fittingness of immoderate players unclear, we person predicted 2 starting lineups, the archetypal if Palmer and Joao Pedro are passed fit.

Preferred Chelsea XI vs. Leeds: Sanchez; Acheampong, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Pedro

Chelsea XI vs. Leeds with Palmer and Pedro: Sanchez; Acheampong, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Gusto, Fernandez, Neto; Guiu

Why Gusto, Guiu implicit Garnacho, Delap?

Alejandro Garnacho has not scored against Premier League oregon Champions League absorption since November 5, portion Delap has not netted successful 21 appearances.

When Gusto has been utilized astatine wing-back for Chelsea, helium has 1 extremity and 5 assists from 23 matches to his name. With doubts implicit Palmer, Garnacho retired of signifier and Estevao and Jamie Gittens injured, it could beryllium to beryllium a shrewd determination to usage the France planetary further forward.

One of Rosenior's large faults was failing to springiness capable opportunities to Marc Guiu. After contributing a extremity and an assistance successful Rosenior's archetypal crippled against Charlton Athletic, Guiu was provided with conscionable 3 further appearances, and his lone outing successful the Premier League came astatine 2-0 down to Brighton connected Tuesday.

While Delap would beryllium the favourite to deputise for Pedro if required, helium has done thing to merit to commencement this game, whereas Guiu has a constituent to beryllium and possesses a acold amended strike-rate for Chelsea than Delap.