CHELSEA will visit Middlesbrough in the quarter-final of the FA Cup TODAY, with Boro looking to upset another Premier League outfit.
Middlesbrough have beaten Premier League opposition twice already in the FA Cup, after overcoming Manchester United and Tottenham so far.
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Chelsea have been the topic of conversation for many lately, after the sale of the club and government sanctions have left many at the club wondering what is next.
Thomas Tuchel is pleased that the team can fly to Middlesbrough rather than take a six-hour coach trip, after a deal was reached with the UK government.
But the West Londoners will have only a few hundred away fans rather than their full allocation of over four thousand, as they have not been able to sell tickets since sanctions were imposed.
Thomas Tuchel gave an update on the Chelsea team news in his press conference earlier today, he confirmed that Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Andreas Christensen are all doubts for The Blues.
For Boro, there is no fresh concerns with regards to inujry, but James Lea Siliki is a doubt following a recent illness.
Odds
Middlesbrough – 11/2
Draw – 16/5
Chelsea – 1/2
Odds are courtesy of Betfair, and correct at the time of publication.
Wilder: No sympathy for Chelsea
Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder stoked the FA Cup flames ahead of today’s quarter-final with Chelsea by saying he has no sympathy for the troubled club.
The Boro boss was discussing the current restrictions imposed on the Premier League outfit yesterday, and reckons that the outcry over the decision is unwarranted considering the real difficulties that others have faced in recent years.
He said: “I agree with the sanctions. I think everybody understands why they were put in place. For me, the noise that’s been coming out of it is misguided.
“The club is not in jeopardy, is it? It’s not a situation like a Macclesfield or a Bury that we’ve seen in the football pyramid. Those things shouldn’t have happened.
“This is an iconic football club, but if we all know our football, we know what position they were in 25 years ago or so. It’s the same with Manchester City. I remember playing those clubs in the late 80s, and they’ve been transformed.
“Somebody comes into your football club, invests hundreds of millions of pounds, and turns it into the club that Chelsea is today – serial trophy-winning teams, world-class managers and players, world-class infrastructure, a women’s team that wins everything, a youth team and academy that is the best in the country and wins the Youth Cup.
“In the football world, I don’t think there’s an incredible amount of sympathy over what’s happening really. I don’t think Chelsea supporters would expect that either. It’ll be a short period before the takeover, and Chelsea will go again, and go from strength to strength.”
Leisurely stroll before banana skin tie
Chelsea’s stars enjoyed a pre-match walk around Middlesbrough after being granted special permission to fly to the north-east.
Sanctions slapped on the Blues mean they are limited to £20,000-per-game in travel expenses.
Thomas Tuchel’s squad originally faced a gruelling ten-hour round trip to the Riverside, but club chiefs worked behind the scenes to have their license tweaked to allow a plane to be chartered for the clash.
And after managing to do just that the Blues enjoyed their free time before the game with a leisurely stroll around the town.
Boro 11/2 for third cup shock
Middlesbrough have already dispatched Manchester United and Tottenham in this season’s FA Cup, and the bookies have priced them up at a generous 11/2 to add troubled Chelsea to that list inside 90 minutes.
Middlesbrough win 11/2
Draw 29/10
Chelsea win 1/2
The tie will be settled today, even if it takes extra-time and penalties, and these are the prices for either side to reach the semi-final.
Middlesbrough to qualify 31/10
Chelsea to qualify 2/9
Odds from Betfair correct at the time of post publication.
Good afternoon from The Riverside
Welcome to the north-east for live Sun Sport coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final clash between Middlesbrough and Chelsea.
Having already knocked out Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, the fans of Middlesbrough are turning up in their thousands to see if their team can shock another of the Premier League’s so-called Big Six by sending Chelsea the same way.
And there will be no Blues supporters in attendance to cheer on the eight-time winners after sanctions blocked the West London club from selling any tickets.
Kick-off is set for 5.15pm, and we’ll soon have confirmation of the two teams as part of our pre-match build-up.