Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu is channeling past disappointments into motivation as he prepares to face his former club Chelsea in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium.
The Wales international has spoken openly about using setbacks as fuel ahead of the high-stakes clash, drawing from experiences that include missing Chelsea’s 2019 Europa League final victory and enduring Championship play-off heartbreak with Leeds.
Ampadu joined Chelsea’s academy as a youngster and broke into the first team under Maurizio Sarri, making 24 appearances across all competitions. He was part of the squad that reached the 2019 Europa League final in Baku, where Chelsea defeated Arsenal 4-1 to win the trophy. However, Ampadu did not feature in the final match itself, having been an unused substitute in the earlier rounds.
After loan spells at Sheffield United and RB Leipzig, Ampadu transferred to Leeds United in the summer of 2023 for a reported £7 million fee. His first season at Elland Road ended in disappointment as Leeds lost the Championship play-off final to Southampton at Wembley. The following campaign, he played a key role in helping Leeds secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
Now captaining the Yorkshire side, Ampadu returns to Wembley with a chance to create new memories against the club where he began his professional career. Chelsea currently uncover themselves in a transitional state, having parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino in April 2026 and operating under an interim management structure ahead of the summer appointment of Enzo Maresca.
Speaking ahead of the semi-final, Ampadu acknowledged the emotional weight of the fixture while emphasizing his present focus.
“I can understand why people might dwell on my past, but that’s gone. I’m here with Leeds. I had some great memories at Chelsea. I didn’t manage to play in that Europa League final, so maybe that one is a little bit different. But hopefully I get a chance to play in this one,” Ampadu said.
The midfielder framed his approach around resilience and purpose, reflecting on how past challenges have shaped his mindset.
“You have to become resilient, remember what you are doing it for and to create those good moments. For me they haven’t come around too often. We’ve been enjoying some here, but what I love about this place is we are striving to achieve a lot more. So hopefully this could be the start for something special, but it’s taken a lot to get here,” he added.
This weekend’s match will be only the second time Ampadu has returned to Wembley since the 2024 play-off final loss. He was also part of the Wales side that suffered a 3-0 defeat to England at the national stadium in October 2024.
“With Leeds United, that’s our last memory there. But you have to park that, you have to remember how you felt – and do everything you can to strive to avoid that feeling again,” Ampadu said regarding the Wembley hoodoo.
Despite Chelsea’s recent struggles and managerial uncertainty, Ampadu warned against underestimating the opposition.
“We don’t just want to be there for it to be a big day. We are going there with an aim,” he stated, underlining Leeds’ intent to compete for a place in the final.
The winner of Saturday’s other semi-final between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest will await the victor of the Leeds-Chelsea clash in the FA Cup final, scheduled for Saturday, May 17, 2026, also at Wembley Stadium.
As Leeds prepare for one of the most significant matches in their recent history, Ampadu’s message is clear: past setbacks are not burdens but sources of drive.
For continued coverage of the FA Cup semi-finals and all the latest developments ahead of Wembley showdowns, stay tuned to Archysport.com.
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