Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media

James Barker

Sat 25 April 2026 19:10, UK

Ao Tanaka should solidify his place in Leeds United‘s starting XI for next season if he holds his own against the might of Chelsea’s midfield.

Sunday is the day Leeds fans have been waiting for ever since their dramatic penalty shootout win over West Ham earlier this month.

Indeed, the Whites have the opportunity to reach the Club’s first FA Cup final since 1973 this weekend, with bitter rivals, and indeed, managerless, Chelsea standing in their way.

Daniel Farke will be confident that his side has what it takes to get the Wembley win however, in what would be one of Leeds’ finest hours for some time if that is to be the case.

Leeds’ FA Cup semi-final provides the chance for Whites players to make heroes of themselves among the Elland Road faithful, and for Tanaka in particular, it could secure his passage into the starting XI for next season too.

Ao Tanaka and Leeds will face quality Chelsea midfield

Only at the start of this month, there was still significant talk of Tanaka potentially leaving Leeds this summer.

Indeed, up until April, the Japanese international had really struggled to carve out a meaningful role in Farke’s Premier League side, despite having played such a key part of their promotion-winning campaign last term.

However, these last few weeks has seen Tanaka really take advantage of Anton Stach’s unfortunate injury blow, and he’s now started in all four of Leeds’ last four games in all competitions.

This run of form was sparked with a brilliant display against West Ham in the FA Cup quarter-final, and he’s continued to be impressive in midfield alongside Ethan Ampadu ever since.

So, with Ilia Gruev now done for the season too through injury, the 27-year-old is sure to be in the Leeds starting XI once again on Sunday, but this will be his biggest test of the season yet.

Not only will it come with the pressure of an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, but in Chelsea’s own engine room, he will line up against a superbly talented group of midfield rivals to try and get the better of.

Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos; Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane has an embarrassment of midfield riches to choose from on Sunday.

But, if Tanaka, with some help from his Leeds comrades, can match or even better those players, then there can surely be no remaining doubt in Farke’s mind that he’s deserving of a place in his starting lineup long-term.

Tanaka must start well or risk Longstaff swap

One other problem Tanaka may have to contend with on Sunday is the possibility for Farke to replace him if he doesn’t start the game well.

Sean Longstaff came off the bench for Tanaka against Bournemouth last time out, and it was the former Newcastle midfielder’s goal that earned him a place in Leeds fans’ hearts forever with his 97th-minute equaliser.

As such, that could leave Farke and fans wanting more of him, and so Tanaka must use that to raise his game in tandem, as otherwise, the Whites boss may turn to Longstaff sooner than the 84th minute when he did so at the Vitality Stadium.

It’s going to be a fascinating and brilliant game of football though, and one that might just have that bit more riding on it for Tanaka than some other Leeds players regarding his future in West Yorkshire.