Chelsea FC turns its attention to the League Cup as they prepare to face Cardiff City in the quarter-finals this evening. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton provide insights into the Blues’ historic 25th appearance at this stage of the tournament.
Chelsea’s last match in Cardiff was a memorable encounter in March 2019, where they secured a thrilling 2-1 victory, a match that left then-manager Neil Warnock frustrated. The Blues have a rich history with the League Cup in Cardiff; the Principality Stadium—formerly known as the Millennium Stadium—hosted their triumphs over Liverpool in the 2005 final and Arsenal in 2007.
Cardiff City, while currently leading League One, has its own history in cup competitions, having reached the 2012 Carabao Cup final, where they lost to Liverpool in a penalty shootout. Notably, they remain the only club outside of England to have won the FA Cup, defeating Arsenal back in 1927.
In their last league outings, the Bluebirds edged a thrilling 4-3 contest against Doncaster Rovers, while Chelsea secured a solid 2-0 victory over Everton, placing them fourth in the Premier League. Chelsea is among seven Premier League teams still vying for this season’s first piece of silverware.
Historically, Chelsea has progressed from 16 of the previous 24 times they reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, having been eliminated at this stage only eight times and never losing to a lower-league opponent. A win today would mark Chelsea’s sixth consecutive victory over Cardiff and their 63rd appearance in a major semi-final, including 17 in the League Cup.
As for the route to the quarter-finals, Chelsea secured victories over Lincoln City (2-1) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-3) in earlier rounds. Cardiff’s journey included wins against Swindon Town (2-1), Cheltenham Town (3-0), Burnley (2-1), and Wrexham (2-1).
Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, has indicated plans to rotate his squad, with Cole Palmer unavailable due to recent injury concerns. Maresca is focused on managing player fatigue during this busy stretch, confirming certain players will be rested.
Marc Cucurella will also miss the match, serving a one-game suspension after accruing two yellow cards in the competition. Given Chelsea’s historical performance in December quarter-finals—having won the last five—they enter the match with confidence.
In their previous League Cup encounters, Chelsea has faced Cardiff twice, with the Welsh side winning 2-1 on aggregate in 1980 and in a single match in 1986.
Chelsea has maintained a strong record against lower-league clubs in the League Cup, last losing to one in 2008. Cardiff, meanwhile, has been prolific in this campaign with 52 shots on goal, a remarkable statistic that reflects their attacking prowess.
Whoever emerges victorious will be just a game away from the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on March 22, a tantalizing prospect for both teams. Notably, the Carabao Cup does not utilize VAR at this stage and resolves ties via penalties if necessary. The stakes have never been higher, and fans can expect an exciting contest between these two ambitious clubs.