‘My message’ - Ampadu’s request to Leeds fans for FA Cup semi-final vs Chelsea

But as captain Ethan Ampadu says: “We don’t just want to be there for it to be a big day - we are going there with an aim”. With turmoil unravelling at opponents Chelsea, Leeds can sniff an upset.

Ampadu came through the ranks at Chelsea and played 12 times for the first-team amid a spate of four loan spells away before his permanent exit to Leeds in 2023. While he was on the bench for the 2019 Europa League final, he was left out in the FA Cup showdown a year prior.

The quarter-final win over West Ham United marked the furthest round he had played in and now he is one game away from playing in the final itself, with only his former club standing in the way of that dream.

“I can understand why people might dwell on my past, but that’s gone,” said Ampadu. “I’m here with Leeds. I had some good memories, I didn’t manage to play in that Europa League final so maybe it’s a little bit different. Hopefully I get a chance to play in this one.”

This won’t be Ampadu’s first rodeo at Wembley, having played there for Wales in October and, of course, Leeds' heartbreaking 2024 play-off final defeat to Southampton, who play Manchester City in today’s other semi-final.

The 25-year-old says the hurt suffered two years ago will “naturally” spur him on to right the wrongs of his last club visit. “With Leeds United, that’s our last memory there. But you have to park that, you have to remember how you felt and do everything you can to try to avoid that feeling again.

“When you’re in the momentum of the game, and you've got that adrenaline, you don’t get to focus on that.

"It might be the loudness, it might be bigger, but when you walk out you understand what Wembley comes with, all the memories that have happened there. But we are there to try to make more for ourselves.”

That loudness is expected to be fuelled by the 33,000 Leeds fans enjoying their first FA Cup last-four tie this millennia. Having experienced the crucible of Elland Road week-in, week-out for almost three years, Ampadu has called on supporters to bring the noise down south once again.

“Wherever we go, no matter what stadium, no matter how far they’ve got to travel, they are always there in their numbers with their loud voices,” said Ampadu. “We know it’s going to be exactly the same at Wembley.

“We know they are going to enjoy the day, enjoy the occasion and we have to give them something to enjoy. It’s not just going to be going out there for a day out, but we will be there to get into the final.

“My message to them would be to be themselves, be loud, get behind us because we are going to try to make it another special day.”

Ampadu continued: “We are in this to make memories, to have those moments with the fans. As many as we can create and enjoy with the fans, that’s going to be very special for this club.

"We understand the opposition and the level is very high, but we are going into every game with the confidence to try to win every one.”

Leeds have not lost to Chelsea this season, having beaten Enzo Maresca’s team 3-1 at Elland Road in December before drawing 2-2 against Liam Rosenior’s side at Stamford Bridge in February.

Ampadu says Wembley has the potential to be a different kettle of fish and is aware the Blues could look for revenge, albeit places confidence in his club’s ability to topple the eight-time FA Cup winners.

“It’s a different game, different occasion but we have to take confidence in what we do,” he explained. “We will prepare like we have done in the past. We have got to be on it.

“We were better home than away so we have to understand how and why that was the case and get back to playing at a high energy and high intensity.

“But you could say they are going to be motivated after that and wanting to try to beat us. So we will be prepared for the best Chelsea we are going to get and we will try to be the best Leeds United.”

Then, maybe, Leeds can really start dreaming of clasping hands on FA Cup silverware for the first time since 1972. “Of course it would be a magnificent achievement for this club,” said.

“We know it’s going to be a difficult game but we know what we can bring to this game, the confidence we have in this squad and our ability to get to that final. At the start of the season we had confidence and targets we wanted to achieve.

“The FA Cup, you have to take it game by game as that’s how the competition is. We have a few more games left to make it one to remember.”

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