Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Sunday, 8 November 2009
Kick-off: 1600 GMT
It’s Manchester United’s turn to try to put a hole in our 100% home record under Carlo Ancelotti today. A win for United would see them nick top spot off us whilst a draw would be enough for us given our superior goal difference.
Chelsea will undoubtedly be looking for another big showing from Didier Drogba if we’re going to get a result this afternoon. The Ivorian has been in stunning form lately and his partnership with Nicolas Anelka is finally answering the questions asked of it.
Another question answered lately has been around our defensive abilities. Our defeats to Villa and Wigan raised the questions, and rightly so, we looked pretty suspect. But Ancelotti looks to have addressed our disastrous defending of set-pieces and despite the suggestions our up-turn in form is largely because we’ve played lesser opposition, the fact is, we’ve still beaten everyone put in front of us in the league.
United’s defence hasn’t been without its fair share of questions either. With injuries to both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic forcing constant changes in their backline and the lack of a Michael Essien in their midfield, they can be forgiven for looking a little more sieve-like than usual. Not that Carlo Ancelotti will get carried away with himself, Sir Alex Ferguson hasn’t been United’s manager for the last 23 years for no reason – a fact Ancelotti learnt when he came up against him in the Champions League in a former life.
MANAGERS’ THOUGHTS
Ahead of this top of the table clash, Carlo Ancelotti seems as unruffled as ever, saying “Psychologically, it will not mean more. We have to play against a strong team. We will play against the second team in the list of the Premier League, but I think that it’s just a game that carries three points like the others. It’s a very important game. It’s important because we play against a fantastic team, but we know very well that it will be a very difficult match but also a very interesting one. We are happy to play this game at this moment. I think we are doing very well, we are in good condition and we have a very good mental attitude. I think Manchester United have a very good team. Like us, they are doing very well because they have qualified in the Champions League and have done very well in the Premier League. Sometimes against Ferguson I’ve won. Sometimes he’s won. But it’s not a match between Ancelotti and Ferguson. It’s Chelsea v Manchester United. I have a very good relationship with Ferguson. I think that he’s one of the best coaches in the world. He has won a lot of trophies and I have respect for him.”
Strangely enough SAF, who questioned the age of our side last season, seems to be suggesting it’s a good thing now. The United manager says “I think Chelsea are using their experience really well. Frank Lampard has retained that fantastic energy to get down the pitch and you would have to say that his record in terms of appearances is quite exceptional for a midfield player. He’s 31, but he obviously looks after himself to get that kind of playing record. They’ve got an exceptional player there and very, very good experience in the rest of the team. Experience can be important. Carlo Ancelotti was a great coach at AC Milan and he has brought a wealth of experience with him to Chelsea. He’s won the European Cup twice and he was also a great player, so he has that wealth of knowledge. I thought he’d do well. He has brought a different system to the one Chelsea used and it seems to be working well. When you have those kinds of players, it’s easier for them to adapt than younger ones because they have more tactical knowledge.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Jose Bosingwa misses out again amid suggestions of a knee operation in the offing. Yuri Zhirkov and John Obi Mikel have both returned from injury.
Manchester United have to do without Rio Ferdinand (calf), Hargreaves, Park and Wellbeck (all knee) whilst Gary Neville misses out through suspension.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (from): Cech, Hilario, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Alex, A. Cole, Belletti, J. Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Deco, Obi, Essien, Kalou, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka, Lampard, Sturridge, Ferreira, Zhirkov
UNITED (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster, O’Shea, Rafael, Brown, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Valencia, Obertan, Anderson, Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Giggs, Rooney, Berbatov, Owen, Macheda.
LAST MEETING
Chelsea 2-2 Man United (Chelsea 4-1 pens) 9 Aug 2009
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 1-1 Man United (21 Sept 2009)
PREDICTION
Of our 34 league meetings, we’ve won 10 apiece and drawn 14, so it’s not exactly easy to call. United haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since 2002, so we should feel more confident than them going into this game. Why don’t I then?
REFEREE
Martin Atkinson
Blue is the colour
