Match Preview: Manchester United vs. Chelsea

AUTHOR: – Doron

United or Chelsea are 90 minutes away from a Champions League semi final. United have a slim advantage having won the first leg away at Stamford Bridge 1-0 last week. This weekend just gone, Ferguson chose to rest 6 of the 11 who played last week (Rafael was injured and Rooney suspended) whilst Chelsea rested 4 of their 11 (Bosingwa was injured), so both sides should be fresh to hopefully produce another good game.

This will be only the third time United have faced Chelsea in this competition – famously this all-English affair is a repeat of the final in 2007/08 that saw United win the competition on penalties; the other occasion of course was last week. The controversial league game between the two sides last month is well and truly in the past with United ending a 9 year wait to win at Stamford Bridge in the first leg. Sir Alex Ferguson has been recalling past Champions League failures that United have suffered in a bid to make sure they’re not repeated this time round.

In the league, Chelsea, the reigning champions sit a disappointing 3rd, 11 points behind United. They started the season excellently, storming into the lead but since mid-November, they’ve not looked or played like a championship winning team. Chelsea’s away form has been decent – in the league no one has conceded fewer on their travels (16 goals) and their record is the joint second best (with United). In the Champions League Chelsea have been ok away from home – conceding just 2 in their four away games and scoring 8, however they did lose at Marseille in the group stages. They finished top of their group which contained United’s last CL opponents – Marseille. To get to this stage, Chelsea defeated Copenhagen 2-0 on aggregate.

In Europe this season, as mentioned previously, Chelsea qualified 1st in their group, winning 5 of their games and losing 1. Chelsea have the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from. Alex and Benayoun both lack match sharpness but Ancelotti confirmed that Alex could be selected to start, pushing Ivanovic to right back. That would see Bosingwa, who had a virus, dropped. Torres is a confirmed starter and it’s a lottery as to who will partner him. There have been rumours Chelsea may revert to their more comfortable 4-3-3, if that’s the case it makes United’s team selection even more crucial. Chelsea have to go for a goal.

Despite the rumours, I expect Chelsea to line up in a similar 4-4-2 to the one they played last week. Ramires who I thought was their best midfielder last week often makes the central area more of a ‘3’ as he comes off his wing, whilst it allows the right back to bomb forward into the space he’s created – much like Evra when Nani plays on the left. Chelsea were able to rest a few players at the weekend – one of whom was Zhirkov which suggests he’ll keep his place ahead of Malouda.

Chelsea’s defeat against United last week was their first in 2 months. Their win over Wigan at the weekend was their first in 3 weeks – Chelsea aren’t in the best run of form coming into this game and certainly momentum isn’t quite on their side. Being the only trophy that eludes Chelsea under Abramovich’s rule this is a competition that seemingly gets more attention than others. It’s also a competition that Chelsea haven’t really had much luck in – strange substitutions in Monaco (’04), the dubious goal awarded to Liverpool (’05), penalties in consecutive years (’07 and ’08), awful refereeing vs Barcelona (’09) and being beaten by their ‘Special one’ last year. Last week, Chelsea fans were also claiming they got no luck right at the end when they probably should have had a penalty – that said, Essien, Ramires and Torres all could have been sent off for two yellow cards.

Enough on Chelsea…onto United and my predicted line up:

United played a 4-4-2 at Stamford Bridge in the league and last week – I expect them to line up in the same way tomorrow. Ferguson alluded to the fact that United play best when they attack and that’s how he’d instruct his side to play. The injury problems are easing for United and it means the ‘missing men’ now only includes: Lindegaard, Amos, Fletcher and Hargreaves.

Edwin should return in goal after being rested at the weekend – he had a minor groin injury in the run up to last weeks game. Rafael is a big doubt for the game and only managed some light training today. O’Shea or Brown could replace him, it’s likely to be the former after he got some game-time on Saturday. Ferdinand also had the weekend off and should partner Vidic whilst Evra pretty much picks himself at left back.

After the midfield worked well last week, it seems there is no need to change it. I’ve picked Valencia on the right, he looks incredibly fresh and fit at the moment. Carrick and Giggs both had the weekend off and that odd pairing on paper worked well last week. Scholes and Anderson provide viable alternatives in the middle though. On the left, Park’s energy and tactical discipline should see him used to counteract Ramires.

Rooney, who was suspended at the weekend should start just behind Chicharito who was rested against Fulham. The important thing with that selection is that if Chelsea do start with a 4-3-3, United can shift Park into the middle and Rooney out on the left to counteract the Chelsea formation.

United are now on a run of six straight wins in which they’ve scored 12 and conceded 3. The lead over Arsenal remains 7 points and despite the away form not being up to scratch (yet it’s the joint second best in the league), the home form has been imperious with 15 league games won out of 16 and none lost. Oddly, in the Champions League, United haven’t been convincing at home – only 4 goals scored in four games, with two conceded. Two games drawn as well. However, United’s defence has been excellent – no goals conceded away from home and the 2 conceded in total mean that United have the best defence in the competition so far.

This season is United’s 22nd in Europe’s top competition. 17 of those times United have got to this quarter final stage and incredibly on 11 occasions United have made it to at least the semi-final stage. Chicharito is United’s leading scorer in Europe this season with 3 goals whilst Rooney is second with 2.

Importantly, United have momentum at the moment as well as a fresh squad. Once again, the loss of David Luiz will be big for Chelsea and with them needing to come and score, I think that could play into United’s hands. With plenty of nerves, I’m going to predict a 2-1 United win on the night, seeing United go through 3-1 on aggregate.

You can share with us your thoughts ahead of the match and your favourite Champions League quarter final memories on the forum. We also spoken to a Chelsea fan before the first leg and you can read his thoughts here.

It would be rude of me not to share these videos with you too (and Rooney’s goal from last week):

AUTHOR: – Doron