The semi-final draw separated the two tribes of London and Manchester, with a Cockney derby still as likely as an all-Cottonopolis clash. Saturday’s meeting of master and apprentice pits Mikel Arteta and Arsenal against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Then on Sunday, ancient adversaries Chelsea and Manchester United square up in the FA Cup for the fourth successive season.

The last time the two sides met at Wembley was the final on 19 May 2018. Antonio Conte clinched Chelsea’s eighth FA Cup success in his final match in charge thanks to Eden Hazard’s 22nd-minute penalty. (That success made the Blues the first club to scoop the full house of FA Cup, Women’s FA Cup, and FA Youth Cup in the same season.)

Since then, fortune has gone the way of the Old Trafford side in the six games between the two, and London’s leading lights are aiming to avoid a fourth successive defeat for the first time since 2011.

Frank Lampard has had the better of encounters with Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, and Jose Mourinho (twice) in his first season as head coach, but not Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Last season, when his Derby side turfed the Mancunians out of the Carabao Cup, Mourinho was still at the Old Trafford helm.

This will be the Blues’ fourth match-up with Solskjaer’s side in 2019/20, and United so far have won both Premier League encounters and the fourth round League Cup tie at the Bridge.

Chelsea have a love affair with this venerable old trophy, with eight wins over 50 years, and have managed a clean sheet in seven of our past nine FA Cup matches. Booking another date at Wembley would secure the Blues’ 14th appearance in the final, 50 years after the first success – at Old Trafford in 1970.

FA Cup wins since 1997

Chelsea 7Arsenal 7Manchester Utd 3Manchester City 2Liverpool 2Wigan 1Portsmouth 1

Since Roman Abramovich arrived at Stamford Bridge in July 2003, Sunday’s opponents have won more major trophies (14) than any other English club aside from Chelsea (16).

Compare and contrast

With Chelsea’s league position more secure now and the longest period of recovery since the restart, four-time FA Cup winner Frank Lampard can pick a strong XI on Sunday.

Despite losing three times to Man United this season, his team have managed a greater number of shots and goals, maintained higher possession, more successful dribbles, won more tackles, interceptions, and aerial challenges, while committing fewer fouls and receiving fewer cautions.

N’Golo Kante's troublesome hamstring injury has ruled him out, with Lampard checking on a few other niggles ahead of kick-off.

United’s trident

While some of the defensive flaws that left them in 14th place at one stage have reappeared after an impressive start to the lockdown, United have conceded the third-fewest goals in the top flight. Their much-heralded three-pronged attack has helped deliver the fifth-highest number of goals.

Bruno Fernandes has set up seven of those goals since arriving in January, and the club record 18 penalties awarded in all competitions has helped; they have missed four and converted 14.

There has been plenty of focus on the attacking qualities of two-footed wide forward Mason Greenwood, but Southampton’s former Blues left-back Ryan Bertrand revealed he is not so adept when asked to defend his flank.

Southampton’s approach generally was instructive. They occupied the flanks to nullify United’s wing-play, pressed their midfield pair Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic into squandering possession, and displayed more energy overall.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) confirmed this week that all competition organisers will be free to choose whether to permit five substitutes again next season. Solskjaer, whose players have had 48 hours less than Chelsea to rest and prepare, may be especially keen the allowance is increased.

The first time Lampard used the full quota available after restart was in the previous round of this competition at Leicester. In fact, the turning point in the 1-0 quarter-final victory was half-time, when the Chelsea coach made three changes after a ‘lethargic’ opening 45. One of the incomers, Ross Barkley, netted the winner – his third goal of the Blues’ seven in this competition.

The coach who has blooded more youth team players this season than any in our history also had words of comfort for the youngsters removed. ‘They are going to be top players for this club and will go on to have really top careers in football. They all train well, they have great work ethics, but it was just the circumstances today.’

Lampard has retained faith in the club’s home-produced players throughout the eight games of the restarted campaign, with Academy graduates averaging around three places in each starting line-up, and comprising 18 of the 32 substitutes used.

Past encounters

The pattern of meeting auspicious opponents in this season’s competition continues. Each team faced by Chelsea in earlier rounds had historically been beaten twice or more en route to the Blues lifting the trophy: Nottingham Forest (in 1999/00, 2006/07), Hull City (1999/00, 2017/18), Liverpool (1996/97, 2011/12), and Leicester (1996/97, 1999/00, 2011/12, 2017/18).

Likewise, Chelsea have had the better of this weekend’s opponents in four of our past five meetings in this competition, including the finals of 2006/07 and 2017/18 – both 1-0 victories for the Blues.

This season the two teams have already crossed swords in the Carabao Cup and it was a win for the Red Devils. The only previous season the pair have met in both domestic cup competitions was 2012/13, when the Blues progressed twice.

The glamour final that never was

Fifty years ago in 1970 the game was abuzz with the prospect of a cup final featuring Osgood and Cooke, Best and Charlton. Sadly, it was not to be, for while Chelsea cruised to a 5-1 victory in one semi-final against Watford at White Hart Lane, the other between United and Leeds became a saga.

Sir Matt Busby, who had partially stepped down as manager, was rushed to hospital for an appendicitis operation four days before their first match, a 0-0 at Hillsborough. The first replay nine days later produced an identical scoreline, then the White Rose finally overcame the Red Rose 1-0 at Burnden Park, thanks to Billy Bremner’s early goal.

FA Cup semi-final regulations

Should scores be level after 90 minutes, extra-time, and penalty kicks if required, will determine who goes through. Chelsea have prevailed in three of the past five shoot-outs in all competitions, while United have lost five of their past six. The defeats include the 2009 Community Shield against Chelsea and a League Cup semi-final in 2014, when among just three who found the net was Marcos Alonso, then of Sunderland.

In line with IFAB’s ruling in response to the pandemic, extra substitutes will be permitted for the remainder of this competition. The new maximum in normal time is five replacements (up from three), with a sixth allowed should the game extend into extra-time (previously four).

The winners will play behind closed doors at Wembley on Saturday 1 August, a 4.30pm kick-off. Chelsea have previously met Arsenal in two FA Cup finals (four in all competitions), and have faced City in League Cup and Full Members Cup finals.

The league grinds on…

The magnitude of the result far outweighed qualms about the performance in our penultimate home game of the season against Norwich on Tuesday. Combined with other midweek results, reaching 63 points put the Blues out of reach of every club except Leicester and Manchester United, who play each other on the final day. Sheffield United’s defeat at the King Power guaranteed a Europa League place for the Blues whatever happens.

The punishing league schedule continues this weekend, with Tottenham hosting the Foxes on Sunday. And on Wednesday, when the Blues are at Anfield, Manchester United play West Ham.

Europe still a big deal

One of the prizes for winning the FA Cup is a place in next season’s Europa League, for those not in the Champions League, at least. The finale to this domestic season has been so hectic few people are even thinking about the current European competitions that will resume in early August.

There is none of the social media chatter about the best travel deals ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League second leg away to Bayern on 8 August (a week after the FA Cup final) as all UEFA matches will be played behind closed doors.

Three days before that, Old Trafford hosts the second leg of United’s Europa League round of 16 clash with LASK (who long ago were beaten 5-0 in Austria).

Recognition for Hayes and England

Further congratulations are in order for two of the people instrumental in Chelsea Women becoming Women’s Super League champions again. In this week’s socially distanced end-of season awards, Emma Hayes was named the WSL’s Manager of the Season, and Bethany England is the new Player of the Season.

FA Cup semi-finals

SaturdayArsenal v Man City 7.45pm (BT Sport)

SundayMan Utd v Chelsea 6pm (BBC One)

Premier League fixtures

SaturdayNorwich v Burnley 5.30pm (Sky Sports)

SundayBournemouth v Southampton 2pm (BT Sport)Tottenham v Leicester 4pm (Sky Sports)

MondayBrighton v Newcastle 6pm (Sky Sports)Sheffield Utd v Everton 6pm (Amazon Prime)Wolves v Crystal Palace 8.15pm (BT Sport)

TuesdayWatford v Man City 6pm (Sky Sports)Aston Villa v Arsenal 8.15pm (Sky Sports)

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