Chelsea face Leeds with a patchy squad and a point to prove
Chelsea arrive at Wembley on Sunday for their FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United, carrying a squad list that reads more like a hospital register than a title-chasing lineup. The Blues, who sit under caretaker Calum McFarlane after Liam Rosenior’s sacking following Tuesday’s 3-0 collapse at Brighton, desperately need a result to keep their European ambitions alive through the cup route, if not the league.
The most serious blow centres on Estevao Willian, who picked up a hamstring injury against Manchester United last weekend and is now facing an uncertain return date. Reports this week suggest he could miss the 2026 World Cup entirely, which means Chelsea will almost certainly be without the Brazilian winger for the rest of the season. Jamie Gittens has been out since 31 January with a similar hamstring problem, and there is still no timeline for his return.
Levi Colwill, working his way back from an ACL injury, is on a careful rehab plan aiming for a return against Liverpool on 9 May. Backup goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen remains sidelined after groin surgery, while Benoit Badiashile is still dealing with a mystery illness with no clear comeback date.
Reece James has a hamstring concern too, though the club is holding out hope that the captain might be able to play on Sunday. Cole Palmer missed Brighton, but his hamstring issue is being called minor, and there is the same sense of optimism for Joao Pedro, who has sat out two games with a calf problem. Mykhaylo Mudryk, meanwhile, serves his provisional doping ban and plays no part regardless.
What does this injury crisis actually mean for Chelsea?
A caretaker manager stepping into this situation faces a tough balancing act. McFarlane has to find a way to put out a competitive eleven without two of his most dangerous attackers, while defensive leader Reece James remains a major doubt. Palmer and Pedro are still question marks, but having them back would change Chelsea’s attacking threat instantly, especially since missing both against Brighton led to the flat performance that ultimately cost Rosenior his job. Chelsea are desperate for goals, and the state of the squad makes Sunday feel like a massive gamble on several fronts at once.
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Whether Chelsea can still reach Europe through Wembley
The FA Cup remains a very realistic path to Europe for Chelsea, though the injury list highlights exactly how much pressure is riding on this game. A win on Sunday secures a spot in the final and a guaranteed European place, no matter where Chelsea end up in the Premier League. The club are in a spot where the league table might not be enough to secure continental football, putting even more importance on McFarlane’s first big test.
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Leeds will arrive full of confidence after their midweek draw at Bournemouth, and Chelsea’s thin attack has to step up where it has struggled lately. This is the kind of big match that shows which squads have real depth and which ones are just running on fumes; Sunday will show exactly which category Chelsea fall into.
