This Wednesday’s important match for LEEDS UNITED could be their only Premier League match of the year. Daniel Farke, Chelsea’s manager, would have like to surprise Chelsea to commemorate the occasion.

That notion was swiftly abandoned given the realities of English football in 2024.

The match between Leeds and Chelsea is always significant because it is the most recent installment in a rivalry that has little to do with geography and everything to do with history. It all began with the intense match at Wembley in April 1970, which forced an FA Cup final that was unusually early to be replayed for the first time since 1912.

Even if the broadcasters had to play fast and sneak coverage of the Football Association’s fifth round onto ITV4, the 5,366 sold-out spectators at the away end will tell a different story.

An additional factor heightens the relevance, as Leeds is concerned about songs, chants, shouts, or gestures by travelers that are homophobic or discriminating. After being fined £150,000 for similar behavior against Brighton and Hove Albion in March 2023—two months after it was made illegal—the club is now on warning.

To put it mildly, getting to the FA Cup quarterfinals is not the Championship club’s top priority at the moment, nor is that.

The Premier League is the focus of modern football, which is why taking on one of its teams anyplace is a significant occasion. However, Farke is unable to live up to his expectations.

His top priorities are returning to the land of milk and honey, which he will do by traveling to Huddersfield Town on Saturday at 12:30 p.m., Stoke City on Tuesday, and Sheffield on Friday for a brief visit. Leeds’ prospects of making it there will be greatly impacted by Wednesday, but not as much by Wednesday’s cup run.