Eddie Gray has made a prediction concerning how strong a lineup Daniel Farke will pick tonight when Leeds United face Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round.
Over the last few years, it has been rare for Leeds to go into the FA Cup with the luxury of being able to give the competition their full attention. And this season is no different, with the Whites right in the mix for promotion out of the Championship.
However, Leeds fans will be dreaming of adding to Mauricio Pochettino’s woes by knocking the Blues out at Stamford Bridge, and booking their quarter-final ticket.
Eddie Gray expecting strong Leeds lineup against Chelsea
So Daniel Farke definitely faces something of a selection dilemma this evening. Certainly, Leeds fans will not want to see 11 changes and a significantly weaker team face the Carabao Cup finalists. But avoiding injuries will absolutely be one of the priorities for the evening.
Speaking on talkSPORT (broadcast on 28/2; 9:45), Eddie Gray shared what he believes Farke will do with his team selection.
“I think he’ll play a strong team. There’s nothing better than winning games and if he can keep that momentum going… if you lose a game, regardless of what team you play, it’s a set back. If you are on a high you want to keep it going, so I think he will go quite strong,” he said.
Avoiding injuries is the key
In an ideal world, Leeds would win tonight and find that the entire squad comes through the game unscathed. But of course, how often does football work like that?
Some will remember the jubilation we felt when Patrick Bamford scored a last-gasp equaliser against Brentford in 2021. At the time, that felt like a massive point. But that game ended up doing more harm than good, with Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips and Bamford all sustaining long-term injuries in that one fixture.
That is an extreme example, but it does highlight the risk which comes from picking our strongest team tonight.
Hopefully there are a few changes. And hopefully those who come in feel that they have a point to prove and a place in the side to win.
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