Ethan Ampadu is relishing the chance to play against former club Chelsea in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final – and making happy memories for a change
Ethan Ampadu will face former team Chelsea in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final
Ethan Ampadu admitted he had some old scores to settle as he captained Leeds United in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final clash with a coachless Chelsea side.
First, Ampadu will be playing against his former club. He helped reach the Europa League final in 2019, but missed out on the high-profile match that saw Chelsea lift the trophy against Arsenal in Baku.
Ampadu spent the next few seasons on loan at Sheffield United and elsewhere in Europe, before joining Leeds in 2023 in a £7m deal. And in his first season at the Yorkshire club, Ampadu suffered a heartbreaking loss to Southampton in the Championship play-off final.
Ampadu is finally back on the big stage 12 months later, helping Leeds to the top flight. And while the Wales international would rather look forward than look back, he knows he can never escape his past.
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“I understand why people dwell on my past, but that’s gone now. I’m here with Leeds. I have some good memories (at Chelsea). I didn’t play in that Europa League final so maybe that game will be a little different. But hopefully I get a chance to play in this final.”
“You have to develop resilience, remember what you’re doing it for, and create good moments. For me, they don’t come very often. We’ve enjoyed some here, but what I like about this place is that we’re striving to achieve more. So I hope this is the start of something special, but it’s taken a lot to get here.”
This weekend’s clash will be Ampadu’s second time back at Wembley since that pain in 2024. Ampadu was in the Wales side that lost 3-0 to England in October.
He said: “What happened at Leeds United is our last memory there. But we have to put that behind us and remember how we felt and do everything we can to avoid feeling that feeling again.”
“When you go out you know what Wembley is and all the memories that happened there. But we’re there to try to create even more for ourselves.”
Ethan Ampadu has some old scores to settle this weekend (Image: Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)
Chelsea could start as favorites despite their recent troubles, but Ampadu warned rivals Leeds are not heading to London simply for a one-day trip or to make up the numbers.
He called on the enthusiastic supporters traveling to Wembley to do everything in their power to help Daniel Farke’s side reach their first FA Cup final since 1972.
He added: “We don’t just want to be there for the big day. We’re going there with a goal.”
“We know it will be a difficult game, but we know what we can bring to this game, our confidence in this team and our ability to reach the final.
“Honestly, I want the fans to be who they are. No matter where they go, no matter what stadium they are in, no matter how far they have to travel, they will always be there, loud and in the same numbers.
“My message to them is to be yourself, be loud, and stay behind us, because we will strive to make this day special again.”
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