Survival or Glory? West Ham & Leeds Face a Dilemma | OneFootball

With Premier League survival still at stake for both clubs, to what extent Leeds and West Ham go for FA Cup glory on Sunday will certainly be intriguing. 

The two sides face off at the London Stadium in the quarter finals, with the potential to create memories for their fans that will last a lifetime. 

Survival or Glory?

But Nuno Espírito Santo and Daniel Farke face a delicate decision, one which has long puzzled Premier League bosses. Is going for cup success worth the potential knock on effect on your league hopes? 

Back in 2011, Birmingham City won the League Cup by beating Arsenal. They then went on to be relegated that same season. They still have not got back to the big time since then, falling as low as the third tier. 

Unfortunately for the more traditional soccer supporter, the financial rewards and importance of being in the Premier League has become far more crucial to clubs than winning cup silverware. Gone are the days when the FA Cup was seen as the elite competition in English football. 

Relegation Still the Reality

It might present an exciting opportunity for those mid-table sides who do not need to worry about relegation fears, but Sunday’s opponents are certainly not in that position. West Ham still occupy the third relegation place, sitting on 29 points. Leeds are in a somewhat better position but are still only four points clear of Espírito Santo’s side on 33 points. 

Leeds boss Farke has been particularly upfront about the need to prioritise Leeds’ survival. “The Premier League is our bread and butter, it has the highest priority, but I’m a big believer in the cup,” he said.  

Of course, securing survival and reaching Wembley in the FA Cup can be done. But both teams will be acutely aware of the potential impact of risking key players in a cup game, and what a big injury could mean for their aim of staying in the Premier League, as well as the impact extra games have on the legs too. 

“We know what it means for our fans, it has been great for us to play at home,” Espirito Santo said ahead of the clash. “We expect support, we know it is a big night. Let’s enjoy it and play.” 

Both sides will also meet on the final day of the Premier League season, in what could be an enthralling bout with survival at stake. 

But for now, the focus is firmly on giving their supporters something to shout about in what has been a challenging campaign for both sets of fans. 

Sadly for FA Cup enthusiasts though, both managers would likely gladly take staying in the Premier League at the expense of reaching the semi-final, final, or perhaps even winning the competition altogether.