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      Tammy Abraham left OUT of Chelsea’s FA Cup squad to face Manchester City in latest snub from boss Thomas Tuchel

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      TAMMY ABRAHAM has been left out of Chelsea’s squad for their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.Despite being fully fit and the competition’s top scorer with four goals in three matches – there is no place for him in Thomas Tuchel’s picks.
      Tammy Abraham has been left out of Chelsea’s squad for their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester CityCredit: Rex

      The striker has not featured for Chelsea since February 20 where he was subbed at half-time in a 1-1 draw with Southampton.
      Abraham, 23, has been frozen out of the first-team picture after recovering from an ankle injury.
      The striker was an unused substitute against Crystal Palace and in both Champions League quarter-final legs against Porto.
      Abraham is understood to be upset at his lack of game time under Tuchel and could be ready to move on.
      He was a fixture under former manager Frank Lampard, and scored 18 goals last season.
      The England striker is still the club’s top scorer this season with 12 goals, despite being frozen out since Tuchel took charge in January.
      But the German warned Abraham, who faces missing out on a place in England Euro squad, that there is no easy way back into the Blues line up.
      Tuchel said: “I don’t think he’s the top scorer since I arrived.

      “So I can only judge what I see and what we have together from the first minute when I arrived.
      “I have seen a bright young man in front of me. A guy who is self-confident, who has a lot of talent.
      “But it cannot be that in a period of such good results that suddenly the guys who don’t play are the winners.
      “This cannot be. Because first of all, you need to be in the squad and if you are in a winning squad, you have your part in this winning squad.
      “And it cannot be that sometimes the people who don’t make it to the squad are in the end the winners, although the team is winning many games. This is not logical to me.
      “We are aware that he scored, we are aware that he scored a lot in the cup.
      Thomas Tuchel warned Tammy Abraham there is no easy way back into the Blues line upCredit: PA
      “We had some tactical changes he had to accept. We accept that he was injured.
      “OK, so now it’s a difficult time to try things out because while he is injured the engine keeps on running.”
      Abraham’s current deal expires in two years, but with Chelsea rumoured to be in the market for a new striker, there has been no talk of a contract extension.
      Erling Haaland, 20, and Sergio Aguero, 32, and Romelu Lukaku, 27, are among the names the Blues have been linked with.
      It leaves Abraham’s future uncertain, having already been overlooked for Timo Werner, 25, Kai Havertz, 21, and Olivier Giroud, 34.

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      Chelsea 5 London City Lionesses 0: Leupolz and Spence on target as Blues waltz into fifth round of Women’s FA Cup

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      MELANIE LEUPOLZ helped Chelsea trounce London City Lionesses with a thunderous strike as the Blues reached the Women’s FA Cup fifth round.The Germany ace’s boomer and a Drew Spence brace were among the goals in a 5-0 win with a title decider against Man City up next. 
      Melanie Leupolz netted a thumping goal for Chelsea against London City LionessesCredit: Getty
      Drew Spence scored her first two goals of the season to help Chelsea reach the fifth round of the Women’s FA CupCredit: Getty
      And a clash with Durham or Everton awaits Chelsea in the next round of the FA Cup. 
      Blues boss Emma Hayes said: “We have found a level where everybody in the group is contributing at a high standard all of the time, not some of the time.
      “That’s one of the hardest things to achieve in football, so credit to the players for putting in that effort.”
      Chelsea, who have already won this season’s Conti Cup, are looking to rack up an additional hat-trick of trophies with the WSL title, Champions League and FA Cup in their sights.
      Hayes made seven changes to the side that defeated Wolfsburg in their Women’s Champions League quarter-final second leg with teenagers Jorja Fox and Agnes Beever-Jones (both 17) starting. 
      Hayes added: “I thought the young players came in and showed why they are deserving of their chance at this level. 
      “Jorja Fox had an excellent game and I thought Drew was outstanding throughout. 
      “After an international break sometimes you’re not really sure how the team are going to come back, but I thought we were outstanding in everything we delivered.” 
      Jorja Fox started in Emma Hayes’ revamped Chelsea side against London City LionessesCredit: Zuma Press

      The Blues threatened as early as the tenth-minute with a delightful dummy and a dangerous cross into the box from Erin Cuthbert.
      Moments later London City Lionesses keeper  Shae Yanez was forced to come sprinting out of her six-yard box to pinch the ball off Beever-Jones. 
      The 0-0 scoreline lasted until the 20th minute with Niamh Charles curling her effort round keeper Yanez following a lovely through ball from Hannah Blundell. 
      And Chelsea doubled their lead minutes before the half-hour mark with Jess Carter volleying the hosts two ahead following a fine Cuthbert corner kick. 
      Hayes’ side would go on to extend their lead with a thumping 30-yard strike from Melanie Leupolz five minutes later. 
      The second spell began in a simillar fashion to the first with the Blues hemming their visitors in their own half.
      London City’s Atlanta Primus started against her old sideCredit: Rex
      And they picked up a fourth goal with Drew Spence side-footing the ball into the net close to the 60th minute. 
      Melissa Phillips’ side had a fine opportunity to nab a consolation goal with Hannah Bennett’s header sailing narrowly over the crossbar. 
      And Spence wrapped the win up for the hosts guiding her second goal into the net following a neat cutback from substitute Beth England. 
      London City Lionesses will take on Liverpool in their final Championship game of the term. 
      Melissa Phillips’ team will play Liverpool in their final Women’s Championship game of the seasonCredit: Rex
      And Chelsea head to Man City for what could be the biggest game in the battle for this season’s WSL title. 
      Hayes says her champs will be preparing for their pivotal clash with the City as they would any other game. 
      The Blues gaffer added:  “We’ve been preparing for this moment all season. You can’t build things up, or play them down.
      “You just have to treat every game as the same and I think I’ve been in this position so many times. I know what’s at stake.
      Emma Hayes and Chelsea will take on Manchester City next in the WSLCredit: Getty
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      Man City boss Guardiola insists ‘I couldn’t care less about quadruple’ and issues warning to Foden ahead of Chelsea semi

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      PEP GUARDIOLA insists he could not care less about the quadruple as he heads for Wembley on Saturday.The Manchester City boss knows his team could take a huge step towards an unprecedented clean sweep by beating Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final.
      Man City boss Pep Guardiola says he couldn’t care less about a quadrupleCredit: PA
      In the next six weeks they will also have the chance to win the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup.
      But Pep says he will not be distracted by what lies ahead and all his focus is on beating Thomas Tuchel’s men.
      Guardiola said: “This is what I say every day, people talk about the past, they talk about the quadruple. I couldn’t care less.
      “I care about the next training session and about how you behave, your understanding and your body language, mood.
      “And then Saturday against Chelsea in the semi final. That’s where they have to talk. There is the place.
      “That’s all I’m concerned about. The rest I don’t care about, I couldn’t care less about it.”
      Guardiola also had some words of warning for man-of-the-moment Phil Foden after he led City to a European semi-final in midweek.
      He starred in both legs of the clash with Borussia Dortmund – but his manager has told him it does not guarantee him a place in the starting XI.
      Pep said: “Phil is getting a lot of compliments because he is playing really well.
      “But when he believes what he’s done is enough and he does not need to show it on the grass he will have made a big mistake.
      Guardiola has also warned Phil Foden against complacencyCredit: Getty
      “I prefer to help Phil in that moment and in that age because he has to learn a lot. A lot
      “He will have very, very difficult moments in his career and the best way to understand is always on the green.”
      Raheem Sterling is one player who has found that to his cost – starting just two of the last eight matches in all competitions.
      He is not alone though – as big names like Aymeric Laporte, Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and Benjamin Mendy are also spending a lot of time on the bench.
      But Pep has told anyone who is unhappy to do their talking on the pitch and prove him wrong on some of the biggest stages over the coming weeks.
      Guardiola added: “The bigger stars want to criticise their mangers? Ok, you talk, no problem. In three days you have another game.
      “Show me then after I will come to you and say ‘oh f*** how wrong I was.
      You were right and you are a top talent.’
      Guardiola faces off against old Thomas TuchelCredit: Reuters
      Anyone who is unhappy at being left out of the Man City team should prove him wrong, says the Spanish bossCredit: Getty
      “There, not here, not writing books.
      “No – in a semi final of a Champions League. Go there and win the game like the biggest stars do and after I say ‘I’m sorry’.

      “The greatest are like this. They go there and score two or three goals. I say ‘oh f*** he was right and I am wrong’.
      “Michael Jordan never went to the media and criticise his manager and agent – he just won the NBA titles.
      “So show it. The big ones are there and the only way I know in my career.”
      Phil Foden sprints to the touchline to celebrate with Pep Guardiola as Man City march on to Champions League semi-final More

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      Leicester’s Iheanacho aims to replicate hero Kanu’s Wembley heroics after being unable to afford to watch 2008 Final

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      KELECHI IHEANACHO was gutted when he couldn’t get a ticket for the 2008 FA Cup final and missed his hero Nwankwo Kanu’s famous cup-winning goal for Portsmouth.However, unlike hundreds of thousands of unlucky fans, Iheanacho wasn’t looking for a Wembley brief.
      Kelechi Iheanacho could follow in the footsteps of hero Kanu by winning the FA CupCredit: Getty
      The youngster, who was only 11 at the time, couldn’t scrape up the cash for a ticket to watch the action on a TV set at his local youth centre in Owerri, Nigeria, where he and Kanu both grew up as kids.
      Now, the Leicester City striker intends to follow in Kanu’s legendary size-15 footsteps at Wembley tomorrow, by booking his ticket for this year’s FA Cup final at Southampton’s expense.
      Iheanacho says he was inspired by his famous predecessor and was heartbroken at missing his finest hour for Pompey.
      He said: “Kanu was a huge inspiration for me because he came from the same city as me.
      “He used to come back to Nigeria and train with us in our academy when he was playing for Portsmouth. 
      “Our coach told us a lot about him and then he started to come and train with us. It was so good. 
      “I looked up to him and he always spoke to me and encouraged me.
      “I used to enjoy watching the FA Cup final when I was a kid but I missed the famous one where he scored the winning goal for Portsmouth.
      Kanu famously won the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008Credit: Action Images – Reuters
      Kanu hooks home the winner against Cardiff CityCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      “He was known as King Kanu and they gave him a crown at the end, the lid of the trophy or something like that.
      “I couldn’t get to watch it myself because it was only being shown at the local youth centre and you had to pay to go in.
      “But I only heard about one of Kanu’s most famous games from those people who had tickets and were able to go in. 
      “I never thought that one day I would play in the same league Kanu played in. I was lucky, now I have a chance to play in an FA Cup final too if we win, so I’m really happy to be playing at Wembley in the semi-final.” 
      As if having Jamie Vardy to worry about wasn’t bad enough, Saints defenders will also have to deal with Africa’s greatest-ever FA Cup goalscorer – a title Iheanacho assumed after his double put Manchester United to the sword in the last round.
      Iheanacho’s staggering haul of 13 goals in 18 FA Cup appearances has seen him not only overtake his hero Kanu (7 goals in 27 FA Cup apps), he has now eclipsed previous record-holder Didier Drogba (12 goals in 29 FA Cup apps) too.
      “It means a lot to me,” confessed the 24-year-old who should have many more years to set a new milestone which could last for decades. 
      “Hopefully I can get to score more and some time someone else can come and break my record. 
      Iheanacho has formed a blistering strike partnership with Jamie Vardy at LeicesterCredit: Reuters
      “I’m just really happy that I have achieved that, most importantly as it’s ahead of legends in the Premier League like Didier Drogba and Kanu. It’s unbelievable.”
      After years of playing the role of apprentice to striking sorcerer Jamie Vardy, Iheanacho has finally come of age for Leicester this season.
      He heads to Wembley having scored nine goals in his last six games for the Foxes. 
      Meanwhile his goals per minute ratio of a goal every 92 minutes is by far the best in the Premier League, now he has overtaken Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin (105 minutes).
      Iheancho’s deadly finishing puts superstars such as Harry Kane (134 minutes), Mo Salah (110 minutes) and even Jamie Vardy (177 minutes) in the shade.
      It’s hard to believe it’s not so long ago he went through an agonising year between September 22, 2018 and September 28, 2019 without scoring a single goal.
      His faith helped him through the longest goal drought of his career – likewise his belief that his mother, Mercy, who died following a short illness in 2013, still watches over him.
      After scoring a stunning hat-trick against Sheffield United on Mother’s Day an emotional Iheanacho dedicated his goals to mothers everywhere.
      Iheanacho saluted all the mothers in the world when he scored his hat-trick against Sheffield UnitedCredit: Marc Aspland

      Now as he heads for Wembley, he says: “I am a Christian by faith and I believe that no matter how bad things get, something good is waiting for you.
      “My worst fear in life was to lose my mum and there isn’t a day when I don’t remember her. There is nothing that could scare me any more in this life.
      “I know she is behind me. Every day I see her when I think about her – for the rest of my life the memories will always be there.”
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      Chelsea vs Man City FREE: Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time and team news for FA Cup semi-final

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      2018 FA Cup winners Chelsea take on 2019 champions Manchester City in a huge semi-final at Wembley.The Blues eased past Sheffield United in the last round as they look for a first trophy under Thomas Tuchel.
      Chelsea have been in excellent form under Thomas TuchelCredit: AFP
      Man City are easing to the Premier League title but will want cup glory to go with itCredit: Getty
      Man City meanwhile were too strong for Everton in their sixth round match.
      Both sides will be desperate to win this one and fancy their chances in a final against either Southampton or Leicester – the two sides competing in the other semi.
      What time does Chelsea vs Man City kick off?

      What TV channel is Chelsea vs Man City on and can I live stream it?

      Chelsea vs Man City is live on BBC One.
      Coverage commences at 5.10pm – 20 minutes before kick-off.
      To stream the game live, head to the BBC iPlayer.

      Can I watch Chelsea vs Man City for free?

      Team news
      Chelsea will still be without key midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who sustained a hamstring injury in training and missed the Porto game in the Champions League.
      Kurt Zouma could start in defence for the Blues, while Kepa may be preferred between the sticks.
      N’Golo Kante and Jorginho are both back fit and set to be in the engine room.
      Sergio Aguero is out for City, while Raheem Sterling could be kept out by the in-form Phil Foden.
      Joao Cancelo looks set to start after being rested against Dortmund. More

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      Mount and Pulisic are key for Chelsea beating Man City while Southampton can shock Leicester despite leaky defence

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      MANCHESTER CITY will go into this semi-final full of confidence, but Chelsea will fancy their chances.Both sides have had success this season by deploying a false nine but in reality they have moulded it to each of their strengths.
      Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount will be vital to Chelsea’s hopes of toppling Man CityCredit: Getty
      Danny Higginbotham writes exclusively for SunSportCredit: Griffiths Photographers
      As a centre-back you always want someone to mark and without a striker you always have doubt in your mind.
      The interchanging of City’s front three – whether it be Raheem Sterling, Bernando Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden or Kevin De Bruyne – makes defenders go looking for their man out wide.
      At Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel will always have a man through the middle who drops deep to drag defenders with him to open up space for the midfield runners.
      And we all know Tuchel is capable of setting his side’s up to contain opposition attackers and be successful on the counter.
      The last four goals Pep Guardiola’s side have conceded have all been from deep runs from the midfield.
      Stuart Dallas’ double for Leeds and then Marco Reus and Jude Bellingham in the Champions League ties with Borussia Dortmund.
      It means both Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic will be key at Wembley today.
      City will be full of confidence after ridding themselves of the Champions League semi-final hoodoo.
      Liverpool boast the most-valuable squad in the Premier League

      It will come down to how both defences deal with the midfield runners.
      Because if the likes of Kurt Zouma or Toni Rudiger get dragged out wide, City will have players like Ilkay Gundogan ready to pounce.
      And likewise if John Stones or Ruben Dias get sucked in it will allow Chelsea to break them down in the counter attack. 
      If Southampton are going to reach the FA Cup final, they will need to respect the occasion just like we did in 2003.
      I joined the Saints in January that year – just in time for their historic run to the final against Arsenal.
      And if there was one thing I took away from that experience it was respecting the opponents in every game.
      I remember Gordon Strachan absolutely losing his rag when all of us, including some staff, celebrated drawing Watford in the semi-final rather than Arsenal or Sheffield United.
      Danny Ings and Theo Walcott are both potential Southampton match-winnersCredit: Getty
      He drilled into us that no matter the opponent it was a game we had to respect and go and win.
      We went into that tie as favourites, which was odd for a team like Southampton, but got the job done.
      Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will have a different experience against Leicester who are third in the league.
      Southampton have had an up and down this season, only West Brom conceding more than them.
      But what they do have is match winners in their side with Danny Ings, Theo Walcott and James Ward-Prowse.
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      How Chelsea could line up vs Man City in FA Cup semi-final without Kovacic and Christensen and striker dilemma

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      CHELSEA will face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final without Mateo Kovacic and Andreas Christensen as Thomas Tuchel contemplates his forward conundrum.The Blues have the chance to end City’s quadruple hopes at Wembley on Saturday.

      Both sides will be full of confidence after securing their place in the Champions League semi-finals in midweek.
      A goal in each leg from Phil Foden helped the Citizens ease past Borussia Dortmund while Chelsea edged Porto 2-1 on aggregate.
      German boss Tuchel has some key selection decision to make though the spine of his side.
      The 47-year-old confirmed Croatian midfielder Kovacic – who he dedicated his side’s aggregate win to – and Danish centre-back Christensen are still out injured.
      Thiago Silva is only just back from injury and played the full 90 minutes against Porto.
      The 36-year-old could be rotated out for Frenchman Kurt Zouma after his goalscoring exploits against Crystal Palace last weekend.
      N’Golo Kante is another player who only recently climbed off the treatment table but with Chelsea playing on Tuesday rather than Wednesday, Tuchel thinks he will be ready ready for the weekend.
      The Stamford Bridge chief also refused to rule out young Scot Billy Gilmour who has rarely been seen since Frank Lampard was sacked.

      In his press conference, Tuchel was asked if Kante could play 90 minutes and if Gilmour would come into his thinking and replied: “Both yes.
      “We have the green light for N’Golo because we’ve had three days between games that make a huge difference.
      “Mateo is unfortunately still out. He is feeling better but can’t be in the squad.
      “And Andreas Christensen is out and can’t be in the squad. That is the situation.”
      Tuchel successfully deployed Kai Havertz as a No9 against Porto and Palace but may be tempted to hand a recall to fellow German Timo Werner.
      Christian Pulisic could be the man to make way after starting the last two games in quick succession, with the American struggling with his own fitness problems earlier in the season.

      Thomas Tuchel has some important selection calls to makeCredit: PA
      N’Golo Kante is set to start after a three-day restCredit: Getty
      On his depth of options up front, Tuchel added: “I do what I think is best for the team and I adapt to the quality of my players.
      “If I have guys who need to be on the pitch and double strikers, we will find the way to play with double strikers. If we have guys who absolutely need to be on the pitch as a No9, we play with a single No9. It depends and we adapt to the quality of the player
      “We have what we have and I am super happy with what we have and we have strong strikers, we have strong half strikers and we do what is best for the team.
      “And I am absolutely happy with what we have and we will push them and that is the situation.”
      Pulisic scored a double in the 4-1 win over Palace and may be given another start after Tuchel praised his impact in the last few games.
      The manager said: “He made huge progress, he was fantastic in the last games and maybe I cannot explain it better – to be calm, to trust himself in terms of injury, in terms of his full fitness, capability and bit more calm and self-confidence and being aware that I trust him and these things.
      “This is important for him to show his full potential. Once he is in that he is a huge player and he has now big performances because he has a huge impact physically and in terms of quality, dribbling runs, arriving in the box in crucial moments.
      “He stepped up and this is what I know from him and I am very happy about this in the last weeks and games.”
      Tuchel may start Christian Pulisic for the third game in a rowCredit: Getty
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      Leicester’s Covidiots determined to write their own headlines after being hauled in to team grilling to apologise

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      BRENDAN RODGERS wants his Covidiots to start making headlines for the right reasons – starting against Southampton at Wembley in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final.The furious Foxes boss axed star midfielder James Maddison, Ayoze Perez and Hamza Choudhury ahead of last weekend’s defeat by West Ham after The Sun revealed they had breached Covid lockdown protocols by attending a house-party at Perez’s home.
      Hamza Choudhury and James Maddison have accepted their party-going was no laughing matter and are keen to put it rightCredit: Getty
      Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers felt let down by his four Covidiots but says their mistake is in the past and their team-mates have forgiven themCredit: Getty
      Meanwhile fellow bad-boy Harvey Barnes remains sidelined by injury.
      But after accepting their apologies, Rodgers says it’s time for his Foxes to make amends on the pitch should he decide to play them at Wembley – by leading Leicester to their first FA Cup final for more than half a century.
      “We had a meeting at the beginning of the week and we accept their apology. The guys were sincere,” Rodgers revealed. 
      “Not only did they know they had made a mistake, they also understood the team is based on our pride and also on behavioural expectation and they fell below that. 
      “So we accepted their apology and today there was a real good energy back in the squad again. I think this will galvanise us.
      “They are determined to write their own headlines now.”
      Some Leicester fans remain furious with their fallen favourites – claiming they have yet to issue a public apology through social media or in person.
      But Rodgers claimed it is time to move on and said:
      “We can’t forget these guys have made a tremendous contribution this season and whilst we are in the position we are because of them, they made a mistake.

      “I think the club has done it. The players themselves were bitterly disappointed and knew they had overstepped the mark.
      “We suffered and they suffered but it’s in the past now.
      “The best way they can do that (apologise) as a football player is by their actions on the field – that’s where we will look to this weekend.
      “We have to move on and for me, it’s gone. We can’t dwell on it. We all make mistakes and they’ve been punished for it.
      “It’s my job to help teach these young players – to help them make a better choice in future.”
      Rodgers refused to be drawn over whether he fears Maddison has wrecked any hopes he had of breaking into Gareth Southgate’s squad for this summer’s European Championships.
      “I don’t know, I’m not picking the England squad,” he said. 
      “I only look at Leicester and I am only concerned with what we do here. I don’t speak to him about England.

      “James was very remorseful. I’ve always said I loved working for him, he’s a young player who has made a mistake and he was man enough to hold his hand up, he was not hiding from it. 
      “He was bitterly disappointed in himself and bitterly disappointed he let his teammates down.
      “He wasn’t trying to talk anything round, other than to apologise and say he had made a mistake.”
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