Chelsea vs Sheffield United LIVE: Team news, line-ups and more ahead of FA Cup fixture today

03/21/2021

Stamford Bridge hosts the FA Cup quarter-final between Chelsea and Sheffield United

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:

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Head-to-head

Chelsea have won four of their five FA Cup games against Sheffield United, keeping a clean sheet in each of those victories.

The Blades’ last win away to Chelsea came in a Premier League match on 31 October 1992, when Brian Deane scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory.

But Sheffield United are winless in their subsequent four games at Stamford Bridge with one draw and three defeats.

Updated team news – Chelsea

Bit of a shocker from the Chelsea Twitter team who sent out the wrong line up. All sorted now though, here’s the updated Chelsea team:

TUCHEL TARGETING TROPHIES

Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, says he wants the London club to challenge in every competition they play and is looking to go all the way in the FA Cup this season. He said:

I think it’s most important that we compete for every competition that we play in. For me this is what it is about at Chelsea – if we play in the league we play for the top, if we play in the Champions League we play to win every game and if we play in the cup we play to win every game and compete for the maximum.”

Team news – Changes

Thomas Tuchel makes five changes to the Chelsea side that defeated Atletico Madrid earlier in the week. Kurt Zouma, Reece James, Mateo Kovacic, Marcos Alonso and Timo Werner all drop out with Andreas Christensen, Christian Pulisic, Jorginho, Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount coming in.

Paul Heckingbottom also sweeps in the changes for Sheffield United. Phil Jagielka and Ben Osborn come into the Blades’ defence with Jayden Bogle slotting into the midfield. David McGoldrick and Oli McBurnie both come in to lead the line.

Team news – Chelsea vs Sheffield Utd

Recent results

Chelsea are still undefeated under manager Thomas Tuchel since he replaced Frank Lampard in January. It’s a run of 13 games that was seen the Blues win nine and draw four. Last time out they progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a confident 2-0 victory (3-0 on aggregate) over Atletico Madrid.

Sheffield United are in worse form. They’re bottom of the Premier League with just three wins in their last 10 games across all competitions. It looks like an almost certainty that the Blades will get relegated this season so the FA Cup is their best chance for a bit of glory this season. However, last time out they slumped to a 5-0 mauling by Leicester City in the Premier League a week ago. Can they pick themselves up to challenge Chelsea this afternoon?

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Tuchel on the need to find balance at Chelsea

“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.”

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Team news

Thiago Silva is almost ready after recovering from a thigh issue but won’t be risked against the Blades. Tammy Abraham could return after an ankle problem, while Mason Mount and Jorginho are available.

David McGoldrick could be available after missing the 5-0 loss to Leicester with a knee injury. Jack O’Connell (knee), John Egan (toe), Jack Robinson (foot), Jack Rodwell and Sander Berge (both hamstring) are out.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Predicted Line-ups

Chelsea: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Zouma, Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Gilmour, Chilwell, Pulisic, Giroud, Mount

Sheffield United: Ramsdale, Basham, Bryan, Stevens, Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Lowe, McGoldrick, Sharp

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