Connect with us

Match Day

Man United vs CHELSEA Preview: Title Battle Or Bust?

Venue: Old Trafford

Date: Saturday, 3 April 2010

Kick-off: 1245 GMT

If we have to face United, we might as well do it with a hangover so today’s early kick-off could end up a blessing if we need to dull the pain. On the other hand of course, it also means having to watch it almost sober, so let’s hope it’s not too painful eh?

Our last meeting saw us come away with a marginal (and maybe slightly fortunate) win, and we were looking pretty ok with a five-point lead at the top of the table. This time around, we’re not quite as comfortable sitting a point behind United, so anything but a win could really be too many points to drop at this stage of the season.

MANAGERS’ VIEWS

Ahead of the game, like the rest of us, Carlo Ancelotti is pleased to learn that Wayne Rooney is going to be missing. I’m not sure I go along with his belief that this gives Chelsea the advantage but he’s certainly looking at this game as an opportunity for us to return to the top of the table, saying “It will be an important game. I think that this game won’t decide the winner, but the team that wins the game will have a good chance to win the title. I am working to bring the Premier League here to Stamford Bridge. We are hungry to win because Chelsea has been very close for three years and now is the time to win. I am not satisfied because we are in second place in the table. We were in first place for eight months and now we are in second. We have a chance in the next game to move back into first place.”

The Chelsea boss goes on to suggest Lampard could be the key to us leaving with the three points, stating “Lampard is a very dangerous midfielder. It is difficult to block him because he is a very dynamic player and he gets into the box at the right moment. He is a midfielder who scores 20 goals every season and he is unique in that respect. I was surprised by him. I knew him but not with the timing into the box and that is his most important quality. We can use this quality to beat United but it is not enough to use just Lampard. We have other qualities and want to use them all.” No pressure then Frank!

The United boss seems to have agreed Rooney’s injury could give us a psychological boost although doesn’t necessarily see that as a deciding factor, although acknowledges the importance of the game itself, suggesting “If one team wins tomorrow, it is a significant step forward for them. If we win, we go four points clear with five games left. If Chelsea win, they are two points ahead of us. A draw, nothing changes and it will be very tight until the end of the season.”

As for his opposing manager, rather than the usual Rafa-directed wind-up, he sticks with the compliments for Carlo, insisting “There has been no failure on Carlo Ancelotti’s part at all. He has done the job well.”


SQUAD NEWS

For us, Bosingwa, Essien & Ivanovic (all knee), Carvalho, A Cole (both ankle) and Juliano Belletti, all remain out. Didier Drogba returns though, having recovered from a knock that prevented him from training earlier this week.
For United, Anderson (knee), Brown & Welbeck (both metatarsal), Owen (hamstring) and Rooney (ankle) make up their missing list whilst Owen Hargreaves (remember him?) and John O’Shea are both available for selection.

TEAMS

UNITED (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster, Neville, Rafael, De Laet, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, O’Shea, Park, Valencia, Carrick, Hargreaves, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson, Obertan, Giggs, Nani, Berbatov, Macheda, Diouf.

CHELSEA (from): Cech, Hilario, Turnbull, Kalou, Alex, Drogba, Malouda, Terry, Borini, Lampard, Obi, Deco, Anelka, Zhirkov, J Cole, Belletti, Ballack, Kakuta, Sturridge, Ferreira, Bruma, Van Aanholt.


LAST MEETING
Chelsea 1 – 0 United (8 November 2009)

PREDICTION

Standard United vs Chelsea game here with plenty of controversy and the odd handbag on show I reckon. As for the outcome? I’m not even going to attempt to go there!

REFEREE
Mike Dean


Categories

Archives

Blue is the colour

TheChelseaBlog.org is an honest insight to the World of Chelsea FC. Not always pretty, sometimes rather cynical, but always realistic.









Calendar

April 2010
M T W T F S S
« Mar   May »
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
Chelsea News



Chelsea Blog FaceBook Icon Chelsea Blog Twitter
Chelsea News

More in Match Day