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Given that the two teams contesting this season\u2019s FA Cup final face more than 200 outstanding counts of financial chicanery between them, the atmosphere at Wembley will \u2013 as several Social Media Disgrace wags quickly pointed out \u2013 definitely be highly charged. In the blue corner, Chelsea still face 74 FA counts of financial misconduct, having already had their wrist lightly slapped by the Premier League. In the lighter blue corner, Manchester City continue to go about their business, apparently impervious to the outcome of the inquiry into the 130 or so charges of money-related shenanigans that may or may not be released before the next sighting of Halley\u2019s Comet in 35 years. While this season\u2019s renewal of the oldest cup competition in the world had more than its fair share of magic in the form of muddy pitches and giantkillings, it\u2019s not unreasonable to think that some fans will go to Wembley on 16 May more preoccupied by the outcome of forensic audits and arbitration hearings than by the actual final being played.<\/p>\n
While Football Daily is not one to relish pointing the finger, we blame Ally McCoist. Called upon to conduct the draw for this season\u2019s semis, the former Scotland striker had the proverbial \u201cjust one job\u201d of pitting Leeds against Southampton so that one was guaranteed a place in the final, but he met his match in an FA tombola that was inured to his legendary charm. The outcome? A Wembley FFP derby showpiece that is likely to be greeted with a collective shoulder-shrug from everyone without affiliations to either team and may suffer the indignity of not even selling out. \u201cThe reality of football is that you get some praise for a performance but by tomorrow no one cares,\u201d sighed Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert, following his side\u2019s spirited showing against a Manchester City team that was able to call on the likes of Erling Haaland, J\u00e9r\u00e9my Doku and Bernardo Silva from the bench. \u201cWe wanted to go to the final and we didn\u2019t make it,\u201d he added, before his side\u2019s crucial league match against comparative church mice and promotion rivals Ipswich on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
While Leeds will be disappointed not to have given a decent account of themselves in Sunday\u2019s drab semi-final defeat against Chelsea, it was telling that Robert S\u00e1nchez was the only goalkeeper forced into making some impressive saves in between running down the clock. Having helped see off Liam Rosenior by downing tools in recent appearances, a rejuvenated Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez helped win the game with a performance that spoke volumes about his character, albeit in an uncomplimentary way. \u201cWe come away disappointed,\u201d parped Leeds boss Daniel Farke. \u201cYou could tell the players were a bit nervous, so much was made of this game. It\u2019s also not that the players are used to playing in front of 90,000 on (Bigger Cup) level once a week. They were a bit nervous to be at their best level.\u201d Now we await the final between two English footballing behemoths \u2013 may the best legal team win.<\/p>\n
Join Daniel Harris from 8pm (BST) for Premier League updates on Manchester United 2-2 Brentford.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t perform an operation with a Stanley knife. It wouldn\u2019t heal. It\u2019s like a surgeon\u2019s scalpel \u2013 we need our blades to be as sharp as possible\u201d \u2013 Karl Standley, Wembley groundsman, gives us a first-hand look behind the scenes at how they keep the 7,140 sq metres of grass in top order on a busy weekend of FA Cup semi-finals.<\/p>\n