Latest Battle of Old Trafford can decide destiny 2011 PREMIERSHIP
Covetous glances have been exchanged between Manchester United and Chelsea all season. Chelsea travel to Old Trafford believing they can recover their Premier League title with a win, but must also feel some element of jealousy as United have a chance of winning the trophy they most desire - the Champions League, and at Wembley too.
The pair's fortunes have been inextricably linked throughout the 2010-11 campaign. They began the season with an unusually hard-fought Community Shield in which John Terry and Wayne Rooney were targeted by fans for their part in the crimes of the recently completed World Cup.
Then, United's propensity to draw matches while Chelsea swept all before them had all suggesting that the Premier League would again be returning to Stamford Bridge with much to spare. But then came the Ray Wilkins affair and a Chelsea slump. While United recovered their footing to go unbeaten until February 5, Chelsea's form collapsed, and was barely lifted by the £50 million purchase of Fernando Torres. Indeed, their recent surge can be said to have occurred almost in spite of the Spaniard, and not because of him.
It was United who ended the continuing European dream of Chelsea and Roman Abramovich, and with a little in hand too. They dominated at Stamford Bridge, and hit back at Old Trafford when Didier Drogba's goal had signalled hope. Drogba is still the wrecking ball that United fear, and it was he who supplied the winner in this fixture last season. That it came from an offside position fuelled the Ferguson fire that was still raging last week when his team were denied a penalty at Arsenal and Chelsea's two strikes against Spurs were wreathed in doubt.
Ferguson's belief that his team receive no help from officialdom probably dates back years but oil was poured on it by United's visit to Stamford Bridge where United lost out on a disputed penalty, and David Luiz escaped censure for what had looked at least two bookable offences. Chelsea have been galvanised thereafter, as United had lost the chance to open an 18-point gap on Chelsea.
A resulting FA ban for his post-match comments on that night has clearly not served to rehabilitate Ferguson's view of refereeing, though it was hardly likely to, and last week's outburst had him back on the borderlines of acceptability. Perhaps Chelsea have him rattled, though a pre-emptive strike on match officials is now de rigeur for most leading football managers. Howard Webb, veteran of Champions League and World Cup finals, is entrusted with refereeing this affair.
In the blue corner, Carlo Ancelotti remains more circumspect, the phrase "this is football" and a twitch of left eyebrow acting as guard against incriminating himself too much. Players like Terry and Lampard are left to do the talking for him, as they have done throughout the years since Jose Mourinho departed their club.
Such elements have added intrigue to a match that is almost, but not quite with two games to play once it is completed, winner takes all. A victory for either however, will have the other feeling the burn of envy.
Manchester United player to watch: Ryan Giggs
A mysterious absence from last week's trip to London, and a midweek watching brief have added lead and energy reserves to Giggs' ever-ready pencil. Chelsea are a team against whom he has enjoyed considerable success in recent years, from a midfield prompting role. He supplied all three United goals in the recent Champions League double-header and seems highly likely to reprise his central role here. Stopping that probing may be key to Ancelotti's tactics.
Chelsea player to watch: John Terry
Last Saturday saw Terry return to the chest-beating incarnation that both inspires his fans, and revolts his rivals. His post-match triumphalism and statement that video evidence could only serve to prove that Frank Lampard's strike against Spurs was bona fide were classic Terry tunnel vision. However, the big talk can be backed by performances that have seen him return to something approaching his commanding best.
Key battle: Javier Hernandez v David Luiz
Here will meet two players who are competing for signing of the season, though Hernandez has received the ESPNsoccernet seal of approval in that regard. Luiz meanwhile has met with even higher regard, as last weekend saw John Terry, no less, anoint him as a future Chelsea captain. Hernandez's missing of the Schalke game may have served to recover the zeal he lacked at the Emirates while Luiz's all-action defending has added a new dimension to a previously statuesque Chelsea backline.
Trivia: In the days when Manchester United often sought new managers, they twice turned to former Chelsea bosses to try and replicate the success Matt Busby had brought to Old Trafford. Tommy Docherty and Dave Sexton were both sacked, though 'The Doc' lost his job for cuckolding the club's physio having won the FA Cup. Sexton was sacked for a style of play that had critics talking of 'Cold Trafford'. Perhaps they should beware of Jose Mourinho's cow eyes of seduction.
Stats: Manchester United have scored just once in three league matches, while Chelsea have scored eight to blow away United's goal difference advantage.
Odds: A United win is 2.37 at bet365, a Chelsea win is 3.10 and the draw is 3.25. 1-0 to United is 7.50, and 1-0 to Chelsea is 8.50.
Prediction: A battle royale with late drama, and a Chelsea victory that sets us up for a late-season turkey shoot for the title from the last two matches of the season.
The pair's fortunes have been inextricably linked throughout the 2010-11 campaign. They began the season with an unusually hard-fought Community Shield in which John Terry and Wayne Rooney were targeted by fans for their part in the crimes of the recently completed World Cup.
Then, United's propensity to draw matches while Chelsea swept all before them had all suggesting that the Premier League would again be returning to Stamford Bridge with much to spare. But then came the Ray Wilkins affair and a Chelsea slump. While United recovered their footing to go unbeaten until February 5, Chelsea's form collapsed, and was barely lifted by the £50 million purchase of Fernando Torres. Indeed, their recent surge can be said to have occurred almost in spite of the Spaniard, and not because of him.
It was United who ended the continuing European dream of Chelsea and Roman Abramovich, and with a little in hand too. They dominated at Stamford Bridge, and hit back at Old Trafford when Didier Drogba's goal had signalled hope. Drogba is still the wrecking ball that United fear, and it was he who supplied the winner in this fixture last season. That it came from an offside position fuelled the Ferguson fire that was still raging last week when his team were denied a penalty at Arsenal and Chelsea's two strikes against Spurs were wreathed in doubt.
Ferguson's belief that his team receive no help from officialdom probably dates back years but oil was poured on it by United's visit to Stamford Bridge where United lost out on a disputed penalty, and David Luiz escaped censure for what had looked at least two bookable offences. Chelsea have been galvanised thereafter, as United had lost the chance to open an 18-point gap on Chelsea.
A resulting FA ban for his post-match comments on that night has clearly not served to rehabilitate Ferguson's view of refereeing, though it was hardly likely to, and last week's outburst had him back on the borderlines of acceptability. Perhaps Chelsea have him rattled, though a pre-emptive strike on match officials is now de rigeur for most leading football managers. Howard Webb, veteran of Champions League and World Cup finals, is entrusted with refereeing this affair.
In the blue corner, Carlo Ancelotti remains more circumspect, the phrase "this is football" and a twitch of left eyebrow acting as guard against incriminating himself too much. Players like Terry and Lampard are left to do the talking for him, as they have done throughout the years since Jose Mourinho departed their club.
Such elements have added intrigue to a match that is almost, but not quite with two games to play once it is completed, winner takes all. A victory for either however, will have the other feeling the burn of envy.
Manchester United player to watch: Ryan Giggs
A mysterious absence from last week's trip to London, and a midweek watching brief have added lead and energy reserves to Giggs' ever-ready pencil. Chelsea are a team against whom he has enjoyed considerable success in recent years, from a midfield prompting role. He supplied all three United goals in the recent Champions League double-header and seems highly likely to reprise his central role here. Stopping that probing may be key to Ancelotti's tactics.
Chelsea player to watch: John Terry
Last Saturday saw Terry return to the chest-beating incarnation that both inspires his fans, and revolts his rivals. His post-match triumphalism and statement that video evidence could only serve to prove that Frank Lampard's strike against Spurs was bona fide were classic Terry tunnel vision. However, the big talk can be backed by performances that have seen him return to something approaching his commanding best.
Key battle: Javier Hernandez v David Luiz
Here will meet two players who are competing for signing of the season, though Hernandez has received the ESPNsoccernet seal of approval in that regard. Luiz meanwhile has met with even higher regard, as last weekend saw John Terry, no less, anoint him as a future Chelsea captain. Hernandez's missing of the Schalke game may have served to recover the zeal he lacked at the Emirates while Luiz's all-action defending has added a new dimension to a previously statuesque Chelsea backline.
Trivia: In the days when Manchester United often sought new managers, they twice turned to former Chelsea bosses to try and replicate the success Matt Busby had brought to Old Trafford. Tommy Docherty and Dave Sexton were both sacked, though 'The Doc' lost his job for cuckolding the club's physio having won the FA Cup. Sexton was sacked for a style of play that had critics talking of 'Cold Trafford'. Perhaps they should beware of Jose Mourinho's cow eyes of seduction.
Stats: Manchester United have scored just once in three league matches, while Chelsea have scored eight to blow away United's goal difference advantage.
Odds: A United win is 2.37 at bet365, a Chelsea win is 3.10 and the draw is 3.25. 1-0 to United is 7.50, and 1-0 to Chelsea is 8.50.
Prediction: A battle royale with late drama, and a Chelsea victory that sets us up for a late-season turkey shoot for the title from the last two matches of the season.
posted by mwesigye herbert at 2:11 AM
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