The FA Cup final is this weekend’s main event as Chelsea and Leicester City go head-to-head at Wembley stadium.
Kevin Hatchard, Mark O’Haire and Mark Stinchcombe previewed the big game on the latest edition of Betfair’s Football…Only Bettor podcast.
The latter of the two Mark’s said: “I think it’s going to be very similar to the majority of Tuchel’s games so far in charge of Chelsea. Domination, in terms of the ball and ultimately control over the game. This will probably suit Leicester and their ability to counter-attack with Vardy and Iheanacho.
“It feels like they had to modify their play a little bit having lost Harvey Barnes out wide and also the threat of James Justin from full back. I think arguably, he would be in the England squad if he hadn’t suffered a season ending injury.
“Rodgers has kind of transitioned from a lone striker to a front two. I think he deserves a lot of credit for being able to make that transition midway through a season and still maintain a top four push.
“I think it’s a game which should be good viewing. Two teams that want to play football rather than a team that perhaps just wants to park the bus.
“But I do think that odds on Chelsea are a bit of an overreaction to what happened against Arsenal. They’re a bit too big for this game.
“We know that football is a game of fine margins so you can’t read much into one match. I think Chelsea at 1.97 look a pretty decent bet to me.
“When you look at the raw figure of Tuchel winning 17 of his 25 games in charge. He’s beaten Man City twice, Real Madrid, Atletico twice, he’s beaten Liverpool, 18 clean sheets from his 25 games. That’s phenomenal.
“You wouldn’t say any of those defenders or even the goalkeeper were world class but he just seems to have moulded a unit.
“We remember that he’s come in half way through the season and players have had to quickly adapt. I think it’s phenomenal that they’ve been able to produce that. It is down to the fact that they’re dominating the ball and controlling the game and ultimately they’re limiting the opposition to chances.
“I think we do need to recognise the fact that Leicester have beaten Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool this season which is a lot of credit to them.
“But I do think they’re relying heavily on [Kelechi] Iheanacho and probably James Maddison as well. Vardy has only scored twice in his last 24 games – which is unheard of for him really. The aforementioned absentees in Harvey Barnes and James Justin, I think could be big factors as well.
“It’s been a long season and we know that Chelsea have pretty much two quality players for every position. I think that the deeper squad here is going to prevail.
“I think Chelsea represent a good bet.”
You can hear more tips and more insight from Kevin and the two Marks on the latest edition of Betfair’s Football…Only Bettor podcast.
Odds correct at the time of publication. 18+ Please Gamble Responsibly. Visit begambleaware.org