Chelsea are back in action on Sunday when they take on an injury-hit Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final on the back of a chaotic week. The Whites have been in fine form of late, but they will be missing a host of players for this one, including Ilia Gruev.
The Blues sacked Liam Rosenior following Tuesday night's crushing defeat to European rivals, and Calum McFarlane has been placed in temporary charge.
The Blues are not likely to rush into an appointment, so it could well be that McFarlane remains in charge until the summer. A number of top managers will become available this summer, including AFC Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, so it is certainly worth Chelsea holding out.
In the meantime, Chelsea still have the chance of winning silverware, facing Leeds in the FA Cup semi-final, and the winner of that one will take on the winner of Manchester City and Southampton.
Chelsea also have the small matter of European qualification to take care of, currently in eighth, and they could be outside the European positions altogether by the time this weekend is over, given they are not in Premier League action and others are.
That could make winning the FA Cup crucial, but the Blues go into the semi-final in rotten form, while Leeds United are on a solid run, now a whisker away from Premier League safety.
Daniel Farke confirms bad Ilia Gruev news before facing Chelsea
Leeds are seven games unbeaten across all competitions, winning three of the last four, but as they prepare to face Chelsea, they won't be helped by a number of fresh injury blows, with Ilia Gruev now among those ruled out.
"Bad news with Ilia," Leeds boss Daniel Farke said in his pre-match press conference. "It's a Meniscus injury that will keep him out for the whole season. We expect him back for pre-season. Bogle had a hit against the foot. It's not too bad and we'll see how quick he can recover. Bornauw - he rolled his ankle. Not ideal. It was pretty sore and he was not able to join us in team training. There's no ligament injury."
Chelsea have their own injury issues ahead of this one, though, with Estevao Willian sidelined and Cole Palmer in doubt, among others.
A win could see the Blues creep up to as high as sixth in the Premier League standings. A draw could see them fall as far as 10th, and a loss, well, that could render them as low as 11th.
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