Both Thomas Tuchel and Brendan Rodgers are looking to get their first silverware on Saturday with their respective clubs with a win at Wembley before the two clubs face off again in the league on Tuesday evening in a game which is decisive for the top four race.
Since Tuchel’s appointment at the start of this year replacing Frank Lampard, the German has led the Blues to two major finals as well as recovering their league position, with a top four position in their hands.
Brendan Rodgers who was at Chelsea himself for four years as an assistant manager under Jose Mourinho has also managed to turn Leicester’s fortunes around since his arrival in February 2019 managing to transform Leicester into a side who have been challenging for Europe every season since is arrival.
It is Leicester’s first chance to win silverware since their fairy-tale Premier League champions story in 2016 after being nearly relegated the season beforehand.
The two sides are currently two points apart in the Premier League table and this week face each other in both the FA Cup and the Premier League in what is a season-defining week for both clubs.
Tuchel has confirmed that Kepa Arrizabalaga will start in the final and the Arsenal game last Wednesday was a warm-up match for the Spaniard ahead of the final. Chelsea are also hoping that midfield duo N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic will be back for the final with both facing a race against time to recover from their injuries.
Leicester on the other hand after without Jonny Evans who has been ruled out with a heel injury as well as long-term absentee Harvey Barnes who was recently ruled out of Euro 2020 by his boss Rodgers.
Chelsea beat Morecambe, Luton Town, Barnsley, Sheffield United and Manchester City on their route to the final whilst Leicester had to overcome Stoke City, Brentford, Brighton, Manchester United and Southampton.
The game will be the third test event in the UK for fans inside sporting stadiums after the Carabao Cup final last month between Tottenham and Manchester City hosted 8,000 fans and Leicester faced Southampton in the FA Cup semi finals which hosted 4,000 fans; this weekend there will be up to 21,000 fans inside of Wembley.
The game will be both on free-to-air TV (BBC One) as well as BT Sport and will kick off at 5:15 this Saturday. The final may go down to extra time or even penalties if the teams are drawing after 90 minutes.
