Chris Sutton has offered his prediction for the upcoming FA Cup quarter-final clash between Chelsea and Leicester City this weekend. As both teams vie for a spot in the semis at Wembley Stadium, the anticipation is high for an exciting showdown.
Despite Chelsea’s current position at 11th in the Premier League table, they have the opportunity to salvage their season with a strong performance in the FA Cup. Having finished as runners-up in the League Cup, Mauricio Pochettino’s side aims to go one step further in the FA Cup competition.
On the other hand, Leicester City finds themselves leading the Championship table, amidst a tight battle for promotion. However, recent results have seen them struggle, with only one win in their last five league games.
Chris Sutton, a BBC pundit, predicts a comfortable home victory for Chelsea in the upcoming clash. He highlights Chelsea’s home advantage and questions how Leicester manager Enzo Maresca will approach the game, given their recent wobble in form and focus on their promotion bid.
Sutton told BBC Sport: “At the moment there is quite a lot of negativity from Chelsea fans towards the club’s owners as well as manager Mauricio Pochettino, and I don’t think that is going to change whatever they do in the league between now and the end of the season. But they can still finish the season on a high with the FA Cup, where they have a good record in recent seasons…
“Chelsea have got home advantage here and I also just wonder how Leicester manager Enzo Maresca will approach this game. His side are still top of the Championship but they have had a bit of a wobble recently, with only one win in their past five league games. Maresca’s focus will definitely be on their automatic promotion bid…
“Chelsea had to battle to see off another high-flying Championship side, Leeds, in the last round but I can see them winning this one pretty comfortably.
“Sutton’s prediction: 3-0.”
Meanwhile, Leicester, despite their recent struggles, managed to overcome Premier League opposition in Bournemouth in the previous cup round, even with wholesale changes to the team. The Foxes will aim to maintain their possession-based style of play and pose a challenge to Chelsea.
Reflecting on Chelsea’s previous match against Leeds in the fifth round, where they secured a 3-2 victory with Conor Gallagher’s late winning goal, there’s an expectation for another challenging encounter.
As Chelsea approaches this crucial FA Cup tie, there’s a hope that Mauricio Pochettino selects a full-strength team, recognizing the significance of the FA Cup run for the club’s season aspirations.
With both teams eyeing a spot in the FA Cup semi-finals, the stage is set for an intriguing battle at Stamford Bridge. As Chelsea seeks redemption and Leicester aims to upset the odds, fans can anticipate an enthralling contest between these two sides.