Chelsea: Three things to look for in Leicester City round one

Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta (L) vies with Manchester City's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus (R) during the English FA Cup semi-final football match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in north west London on April 17, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Adam Davy / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ADAM DAVY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Chelsea’s English defender Reece James (R) vies with Leicester City’s Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Chelsea at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on January 19, 2021. (Photo by Rui Vieira / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by RUI VIEIRA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

3. Just how much this match feels like round one of a two round battle

Obviously both sides will want silverware to cap off their season. Leicester City has been building with a young side practically since they won the title and they will want something to show for it. Chelsea, as Tuchel notes, always plays for every trophy for as long as they can.

That being said, there is some prioritizing that is bound to happen. Chelsea won’t want to lose the FA Cup (again), especially given the morale blow it may be to lose it. At the same time, the Blues will want to achieve top four to take some pressure off the Champions League final.

Leicester, however, would surely take Champions League over the FA Cup if it came to it. Nice as silverware may be to bookmark this young team, a year in the Champions League would be massive for a team like Leicester as they look to establish themselves in a new top six.

Of course, no one will say any of that in the build up, but there may be a small voice in the back of their heads (from both sides) that they can’t win both matches. Much will be settled in the FA Cup and the team that wins will be overjoyed, but the loser will quickly pivot to the importance of that league match a few days later.

If the FA Cup final doesn’t feel like a final, but instead feels more like the first leg of a Champions League match, it should come as no surprise. Champions League qualification will be important next season whereas FA Cup is important for this season. That may cause some prioritizing (probably more on the part of Leicester) over these two matches.

Next. Chelsea: Play to win and start Edouard Mendy in the FA Cup final. dark

What are you looking for in this one? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!

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