This weekend sees our Emirates FA Cup semi-finals take place at Wembley Stadium connected by EE and our friends at Opta have helped pick out some of the standout facts heading into the exciting two clashes.
Find out where you can watch both ties across the world.
Manchester City v Chelsea
Saturday 20 April
5.15pm on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport
- Manchester City are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with Chelsea in all competitions (W6 D2), though both games between the sides in the Premier League this season have been drawn.
- Chelsea have been eliminated from the five of their last seven FA Cup ties against Manchester City, including in the third round last season. However, they did beat the Citizens 1-0 the last time they played them in the semi-final of the competition (2020-21).
- This is the seventh time in eight seasons under Pep Guardiola that Manchester City are playing in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, while they’ll be the first team to do so in six consecutive campaigns in the competition. However, they’ve only progressed from two of their previous six under the Spaniard (2019 and 2023), with three of their four defeats coming against London sides (2 vs Arsenal, 1 vs Chelsea).
- This will be Chelsea’s 27th appearance in the FA Cup semi-finals, the third most in the competition’s history after Manchester United (32, including 2024) and Arsenal (30). Indeed, only the Red Devils and Arsenal (21 each, before 2024) have reached the final more often than the Blues (16).
- Only including games when used as a neutral venue, this will be Chelsea’s 43rd match at Wembley Stadium, with only Manchester United playing in more. It’s the Blues’ 30th since the stadium re-opened in 2007, more than any other side in that time (neutral venue only).
Throwing it 🔙 to when the #EmiratesFACup semi-finals were just a dream ✨ pic.twitter.com/DVKq2vSiaP
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 15, 2024
- Manchester City are looking to reach the FA Cup final in consecutive campaigns for the third time in their history, previously doing so in 1933/1934 and 1955/1956.
- Chelsea have been eliminated on five of the last six occasions they’ve faced the holders of the FA Cup in the competition. However, they did win their most recent such encounter, beating Manchester United 1-0 in the quarter-final of the 2017 edition.
- Manchester City have won 28 of their last 31 FA Cup matches (L3), featuring two runs of 10 consecutive victories in that time including a current one. The last team to win more in a row in the competition were Chelsea (13 between 2009 and 2011).
- Chelsea could reach both the League Cup and FA Cup final in the same season for the third time, previously doing so in 2006-07 (won both) and 2021-22 (lost both). It would be the joint-most number of times a team has done so, level with Liverpool (2000-01, 2011-12 and 2021-22) and Manchester United (1982-83, 1993-94 and 2022-23).
- Chelsea’s Mauricio Pochettino has been eliminated from four of his eight major semi-finals in his managerial career. He’s lost both of his FA Cup semi-final ties (2017 and 2018 with Tottenham), and his only semi-final tie against Pep Guardiola (2021 Champions League with PSG).
- Man City midfielder Rodri has scored in both Premier League games against Chelsea this season – he’s never scored in three consecutive appearances against an opponent in all competitions in his career in the big five European leagues before.
- Raheem Sterling has scored in both of Chelsea’s meetings with Manchester City this season. He could be the first Blues player to score in three different games against the Citizens in a single campaign, with this the 12th different season the sides have met 3+ times.
Coventry City v Manchester United
Sunday 21 April 2024
3.30pm on ITV1, UTV, STV and ITVX
- Manchester United have won 13 of their last 15 meetings with Coventry in all competitions (L2). This is the first game between the sides since September 2007, with the Sky Blues winning 2-0 at Old Trafford in the League Cup.
- This is the first FA Cup meeting between Coventry and Manchester United since the fourth round in 1986-87, with the Sky Blues winning 1-0 en route to winning the trophy. Before that, they met in the 1984-85 fourth round, with the Red Devils winning 2-1 en route to winning the trophy.
- Manchester United are playing in their 32nd FA Cup semi-final tie, two more than any other side. Victory would see them reach the final of the competition for a record 22nd time (currently tied with Arsenal on 21).
- Manchester United are looking to reach the FA Cup final in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2004/2005, while they’re looking to reach back-to-back finals at Wembley for the first time since a run of three between 1994 and 1996.
- Coventry City are playing in just their second ever FA Cup semi-final, previously beating Leeds United in 1986-87 en route to winning the trophy.
- Manchester United have won/progressed from 50 of their last 52 FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division, with the exceptions coming against Leeds United (January 2010) and Middlesbrough (February 2022).
Which midfield trio are you crowning as the BEST? 👑#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/6J1FX4FxcY
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 9, 2024
- Coventry City have scored 19 goals in this season’s FA Cup, more than any other side (first round onwards). The last club from outside the top-flight to score more in a single campaign were Wrexham in 1977-78 (22).
- Only including games when used as a neutral venue, this will be Manchester United’s 56th match at Wembley Stadium, at least 13 more than any other side.
- Coventry eliminated Wolves in the quarter-final – they haven’t knocked out more than one Premier League side in a single FA Cup campaign since 1997-98 (3), when they themselves were a top-flight club.
- Sides from outside the top-flight have lost each of their last six FA Cup semi-final matches, most recently Sheffield United last season. Coventry are looking to become the first such team to reach the final since Cardiff City in 2008.
- Marcus Rashford has scored at Wembley Stadium for Manchester United in the League Cup final (against Newcastle) and in the Premier League (against Tottenham). However, he’s never scored at the ground in the FA Cup in seven previous appearances.
- Having failed to score in any of his first four FA Cup appearances, Ellis Simms has netted five goals in his last two in the competition. His five goals this term is the most by a Coventry player in a single FA Cup campaign since 1986-87, when Keith Houchen scored five as the Sky Blues lifted the trophy.
