Man Utd v/s Chelsea: Can Red Devils end dismal Stamford Bridge run?

The last time Manchester United played Chelsea it was dubbed the Jose Mourinho derby as speculation was rife that the recently-fired Chelsea manager would be snapped up by the Red Devils to replace Louis Van Gaal, as England’s most decorated team struggled with an existential crisis, struggling to understand their embittered manager’s philosophy. A battling 0-0 draw kept the hounds at bay for a while but United finally seem to have understood LVG’s tactics as they dismantled Stoke City with counter-attacks that were routine when Messrs Ronaldo and Tevez plied their trade here.

While Manchester United are still far from where they want to be as they look up at the top 4 spots, Chelsea are still hovering over the manager zone as Guus Hiddink tries to undo the worst start by a champion in Premier League history.

Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha suggested recently that if United are to be in the title run-in, they need to be more clinical. Man Utd fans won’t be too hopeful since even the best of Ferguson sides have struggled at Stamford bridge.

On the other hand, Chelsea still find themselves in the bottom-half of the table, as they hover over the relegation zone and another 0-0 at Watford might have extended his unbeaten run at the helm, but it won’t please either Abrahamovic or the supporters who aren’t used to mid-table mediocrity.

Form

United seem to have thrown off the ‘boring’ tag after nine goals in their last three matches and Louis Van Gaal still hasn’t beaten Chelsea since he took over. The history books will show that Stamford Bride is not a happy hunting ground for Utd sides as the Red Devils have recorded only one victory in their last 13 Premier League trips to Stanford Bridge. While United have drawn 2, lost 1 and won 3 of their last six matches, Chelsea have drawn four and won two in the Premier league. 

On a personal level, Wayne Rooney has hit his customary hot-streak, scoring seven goals in his last eight appearances. For the Blues, Diego Costa looks like he has found form again since Hiddink took charge and scored an impressive hat-trick against MK Dons in the FA Cup while beleaguered forward Eden Hazard also got his first goal of the season to put an end to the numerous things that have happened since Hazard’ memes.

Team News

United will be missing Bastian Schweinsteiger, Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw while Van Gaal is unlikely to play Adnan Januzaj or Memphis Depay. Wayne Rooney is likely to start up front after impressing in recent weeks while Mata will most likely be given his preferred number 10 position where he can pull the strings. Chelsea aren’t missing anyone due to injury except Falcao and Remy, who aren’t exactly first-team players. It’s also unlikely that Pato, who moved on loan in January will get his first start. Meanwhile, United’s defenders will be facing the menace called Diego Costa for the first time since he arrived in Chelsea as he has missed the team's last three matches against Man Utd.

Pre-Match Banter


 

In-form goalkeeper, David De Gea said United will depend on its attackers for victory. "We need to keep this level because we have really good players in attack – quick, powerful, and they score a lot of goals," he said on Tuesday. "We always have the confidence. But, in the last couple of games, we have scored three goals and I think it’s been really important to us, and given confidence to us to keep this run going.”

Former Premier League Player of the Year Eden Hazard, who has failed to impress this season told Chelsea’s official website: “It’s always good to be back on the pitch/ When you are injured and watching from the outside it’s not good, especially when you want to play every game. Now I’m back, I hope my injuries are finished and I can play the next four months to help us win trophies at the end of the season. You never know with injuries but I’m not feeling any pain now, I’m 100 per cent fit and I’m ready to play.”

‘We have four very important months and I think the manager wants me to be fresh. I’ve been out for a month, which is a long time. Sometimes you can come back too quickly and you end up getting injured again.’

Starting XI: 

Manchester United: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson, Fellaini, Carrick, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Rooney

Chelsea FC: Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry (c), Azpi; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Oscar; Diego Costa.

Manager Talk

Before the match Van Gaal continued to battle with rumours about Mourinho being in talks with the Manchester United management: "When there is such nonsense written about me, I cannot believe there is already a relationship between Jose Mourinho and United."I cannot believe that [reports about Mourinho] because I have seen what is happening in the past two months and it was difficult for me, my wife, kids, grandchildren and friends to cope with that.It is the football world nowadays. It is a pity but it is like that."

He added: “I think the criticism is logical when you lose four matches in a row. I had never done that as a manager – never. Then it is logical that people are doubting. Now the belief has to be bigger and that’s always difficult for fans. I only criticised the media because they invented stories. One paper has written that I have hired security for my wife. I never hired security – never, never. I am walking the streets without security and all the people in the streets are very positive. I can’t complain but I have to answer questions.”

He also said he was too arrogant to doubt himself: “Did I doubt myself? No In the Netherlands they know I’m too arrogant for that. ‘I analyse the circumstances but you cannot fight against circumstances which are beyond your responsibility. It’s luck and no luck. In December it was painful, very painful. So it is remarkable that after losing those four matches in a row, the matches we have made now. When I started there were, I think, eight or ten players beyond 30 years. And now you have to see the selection. It’s still the same aim – the Champions League and one step higher than last year."

Meanwhile, he told MUTV that he expected an attacking approach: “It's very important that we dare to play in every position and that we give options to the player who has the ball/ "That's very important and I hope that we can show it. Then we can win and we can beat Chelsea. It shall give us a big boost if we beat Chelsea at their home."

Talking about the sudden upsurge in style Van Gaal said: “It never happens suddenly. It is because we are working very hard. The training style has not been changed and [it is not because] there is lots more freedom in the players' heads. It is only because of the confidence that the players themselves feel more free. Confidence is very important and when you lose four matches in a row and you are also out of the Champions League, it give you a bigger mental blow than when it is only one match that you have lost."

On the other hand, Chelsea’s interim manager Guus Hiddink appeared to criticise Van Gaal’s obsession with possession-based football saying: “You must not overrate the amount of possession. Most teams want the ball. What do you do with it? Say we had 65, 67 and 70% possession, but our opponents said, 'We don't care how much possession you have, we have the score on our side'.”

"Do you secure your way of playing? Or do you go as soon as possible into the attack? I prefer the latter option. The first thought must be vertical." 

Meanwhile, while talking to the official Chelsea website, Hiddink praised Daley Bind and said he was well-equipped for the Premier League. “I know the player and of course he’s not the quickest but he’s tactically very keen,’ said Hiddink. ‘He has to adapt himself to the pace of the games because now he is in the Premier League. There are not many moments with a relative pause in the game and that’s what he must get used to.’

He also said that team would need to pay close attention on Anthony Martial who scored a cracker against Stoke City.  ‘Martial is one of the key players at a young age,’ he said. ‘He’s doing very well, he’s playing without any second thoughts, very spontaneous, and that makes him very dangerous.’