Man Utd battle Tottenham as Chelsea play Southampton in FA semi-finals
After a tight 2-1 win at Leicester City, Chelsea have now been drawn against Southampton in the semi-finals of the FA Cup (thanks, Agent Petr!), with the parallel fixture being Manchester United against Tottenham.
This is most certainly an encouraging match up and Chelsea will arguably go into the tie as favourites, especially as the competition represents their last chance of silverware this season. However, the Saints are no pushovers and we shouldn't by any means take this fixture lightly.
Nevertheless, Southampton aren't having a good season, to put it mildly, and are currently sitting near the bottom of the Premier League table. This poor run of form has also lead to them recently sacking Mauricio Pellegrino and hiring former Chelsea player Mark Hughes, who was then again sacked a few weeks earlier at Stoke. It's thus safe to say that, despite kicking 'giant killers' Wigan out of the competition, Southampton has been all over the place this season and five wins from 30 games reflect this claim. One of those losses came against Chelsea back in December, the Blues taking all 3 points thanks to a lovely Marcos Alonso free-kick, and we'll be looking to reproduce that scoreline, at the very least.
Overall, it remains to be seen whether or not the change in management will have a positive effect on the Saints and Chelsea will most probably face a tough challenge to proceed to the final. The tie should go ahead on the weekend of April 21-22, though the exact date is still to be announced.
Four clubs, one trophy - who needs it most?
According to the analysis written by; BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty,
The FA Cup has once again answered those who claim it has lost its lustre and magic - one look at the semi-final line-up is the reply to the cynics.
Southampton take on the role of underdogs while three of the Premier League's genuine superpowers will be fighting it out for their only chance of silverware this season.
The FA Cup has assumed massive significance for Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and his counterparts from Manchester United and Tottenham, Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino.
And for Southampton manager Mark Hughes, at Wembley after one match in charge having succeeded sacked Mauricio Pellegrino, it presents an unlikely route to success this season after his sacking at Stoke. It is a competition he won four times as a player with Manchester United and Chelsea.
Conte will want victory to make amends for last season's final defeat by Arsenal that denied him a Premier League and FA Cup double in his first season at Stamford Bridge. It could also prove to be the perfect farewell with the growing expectation that the Italian will leave Chelsea at the end of the season.
Mourinho, that serial accumulator of trophies, will now be eyeing the FA Cup as his response to those who have criticised him and Manchester United's sterile football this season, especially after the timid exit to Sevilla at the last-16 stage of the Champions League.
He and United face a tough task against Spurs - who have already beaten them comfortably at Wembley in the Premier League this season - but he will relish the opportunity to prove once more that when the big occasion arrives he can plot the big result.
The manager who arguably has the most riding on the FA Cup is Spurs boss Pochettino, who will want the trophy as tangible evidence of the very obvious progress he has made in building an attractive, emerging side.
Spurs' disappointing Champions League loss to Juventus once again posed the question of just how highly Pochettino and his team can be regarded until they have a trophy to their name.
The FA Cup presents a perfect opportunity to put that right - but all four managers and clubs who will fight it out at Wembley on semi-final weekend have compelling reasons for wanting to win the famous old trophy.
This is most certainly an encouraging match up and Chelsea will arguably go into the tie as favourites, especially as the competition represents their last chance of silverware this season. However, the Saints are no pushovers and we shouldn't by any means take this fixture lightly.
Nevertheless, Southampton aren't having a good season, to put it mildly, and are currently sitting near the bottom of the Premier League table. This poor run of form has also lead to them recently sacking Mauricio Pellegrino and hiring former Chelsea player Mark Hughes, who was then again sacked a few weeks earlier at Stoke. It's thus safe to say that, despite kicking 'giant killers' Wigan out of the competition, Southampton has been all over the place this season and five wins from 30 games reflect this claim. One of those losses came against Chelsea back in December, the Blues taking all 3 points thanks to a lovely Marcos Alonso free-kick, and we'll be looking to reproduce that scoreline, at the very least.
Overall, it remains to be seen whether or not the change in management will have a positive effect on the Saints and Chelsea will most probably face a tough challenge to proceed to the final. The tie should go ahead on the weekend of April 21-22, though the exact date is still to be announced.
Four clubs, one trophy - who needs it most?
According to the analysis written by; BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty,
The FA Cup has once again answered those who claim it has lost its lustre and magic - one look at the semi-final line-up is the reply to the cynics.
Southampton take on the role of underdogs while three of the Premier League's genuine superpowers will be fighting it out for their only chance of silverware this season.
The FA Cup has assumed massive significance for Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and his counterparts from Manchester United and Tottenham, Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino.
And for Southampton manager Mark Hughes, at Wembley after one match in charge having succeeded sacked Mauricio Pellegrino, it presents an unlikely route to success this season after his sacking at Stoke. It is a competition he won four times as a player with Manchester United and Chelsea.
Conte will want victory to make amends for last season's final defeat by Arsenal that denied him a Premier League and FA Cup double in his first season at Stamford Bridge. It could also prove to be the perfect farewell with the growing expectation that the Italian will leave Chelsea at the end of the season.
Mourinho, that serial accumulator of trophies, will now be eyeing the FA Cup as his response to those who have criticised him and Manchester United's sterile football this season, especially after the timid exit to Sevilla at the last-16 stage of the Champions League.
He and United face a tough task against Spurs - who have already beaten them comfortably at Wembley in the Premier League this season - but he will relish the opportunity to prove once more that when the big occasion arrives he can plot the big result.
The manager who arguably has the most riding on the FA Cup is Spurs boss Pochettino, who will want the trophy as tangible evidence of the very obvious progress he has made in building an attractive, emerging side.
Spurs' disappointing Champions League loss to Juventus once again posed the question of just how highly Pochettino and his team can be regarded until they have a trophy to their name.
The FA Cup presents a perfect opportunity to put that right - but all four managers and clubs who will fight it out at Wembley on semi-final weekend have compelling reasons for wanting to win the famous old trophy.
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