League leaders, Chelsea's visit to Old Trafford will be a reunion of sort between Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho who previously worked together at Barcelona...
Manchester United entertain Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday with the Blues in the unusual position of favourites to win the match. Not because Chelsea are not worthy of that tag, but because it is hard to remember a team going to Old Trafford expected to win comfortably.
United will go into the match on the back of yet another disappointing away result at West Bromwich Albion. Despite coming from behind twice to claw back a 2-2 draw, United’s dominance in attack and weakness at the back was again for all to see.
Perhaps United’s biggest worry is the fitness of Ángel Di María, who limped off with a thigh injury in the clash at the Hawthorns. The Argentine has been United’s best and most consistent player this season with three goals and a host of assists. He also provided the pass for Marouane Fellaini’s goal on Monday night.
Radamel Falcao should return to the starting lineup in Manchester having settled for a place on the bench against West Brom following jet lag from his trip to South America to represent Colombia. That means Adnan Januzaj or Juan Mata could drop to the bench, with Robin van Persie likely to be Falcao’s strike partner in Manchester.
Chelsea go into the match on the back of a routine 6-0 victory over Maribor in the Champions League. However, the one blot on the match was the fact Loïc Rémy pulled up with an injury just as he celebrated scoring for his side. The Frenchman was immediately replaced by veteran Didier Drogba, who scored from the penalty spot.
In-form striker Diego Costa missed the tie because of a nagging hamstring injury and is likely to sit out the trip to Old Trafford. Some reports suggest the Brazilian-born Spain international will be out of action for at least three weeks. Costa’s absence will give United a huge boost, especially as the latter’s defense has struggled to contain strikers of a much lower quality this season.
With Rémy and Costa both missing for the Blues, the west London side may be forced into starting Drogba in Manchester. With United having leaked at least goal in every game except one this season, they will take heart from the fact Chelsea’s main strikers are going to miss the game.
The match also marks the reunion of coaches Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho who previously worked together at Barcelona. Van Gaal famously promoted the then interpreter to his “third assistant” at the Camp Nou. Van Gaal said after the Monday night game against West Brom that United can still win the title. Whether that was a cocky comment from the self-confessed “arrogant” man or just a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun, a victory for United against the run away leaders would make the rest of the Premier League stand up and take notice. After the two sides have met in Manchester on Sunday, either United will either be considered a bet for a top four spot come the end of the season, or all the money will be on Chelsea to take the title back to London.
With Diego Costa still struggling with hamstring injury and Loic Remy facing a race to be fit for Sunday's game after hurting his groin in the 6-0 win against Maribor, Mourinho may have to turn to the 36-year-old veteran at Old Trafford, Didier Drogba on Sunday.
Drogba may have scored 158 goals for the Blues in his two spells, scoring his first goal for the club last night since the Champions League final, but less than a handful of those came against Sir Alex Ferguson's team.
In 19 matches against United in all competitions, Drogba scored a measly three goals
If we look a bit closer at the numbers, Drogba may not have got on the scoresheet too many times but he has played a pivotal role - for good and bad - in matches between the two sides.
His first goal against United was the only goal of a truly terrible FA Cup final in 2007, one of the worst in recent memory; but it was a goal that handed Chelsea a trophy.
Drogba had to wait almost three years for his next goal against United, but again it was a massively important one, if highly contentious. In the title decider at Old Trafford in April 2010, Drogba scored a goal with 10 minutes remaining that effectively handed Chelsea the Premier League title - but the striker was offside.
His third and final goal came in the 2011 Champions League last-16 tie, again at Old Trafford. Chelsea lost 3-1 over two legs, a result that would lead to Carlo Ancelotti leaving the club in the summer.
Drogba also played a pivotal role in the 2008 Champions League final, but for the wrong reasons if you are a Chelsea fan. In extra-time, with Chelsea on top, the striker was sent off in Russia for pointlessly slapping Nemanja Vidic. The Blues would go on to lose the final in a penalty shoot-out.
Despite his lack of goals Chelsea's record when Drogba is in the team against Manchester United is good.
Of the 19 games he's been involved in Chelsea have won a slight majority, eight, drawing four and losing seven. But one of those draws and one of those defeats came in the largely pointless Community Shield, giving Drogba a more respectable eight wins from 17 matches.
Whether the striker ends up starting at Old Trafford on Sunday is a big if, but, as ever, he will certainly attract a lot of attention one way or the other.
Culled from thisdaylive.com
Radamel Falcao should return to the starting lineup in Manchester having settled for a place on the bench against West Brom following jet lag from his trip to South America to represent Colombia. That means Adnan Januzaj or Juan Mata could drop to the bench, with Robin van Persie likely to be Falcao’s strike partner in Manchester.
Chelsea go into the match on the back of a routine 6-0 victory over Maribor in the Champions League. However, the one blot on the match was the fact Loïc Rémy pulled up with an injury just as he celebrated scoring for his side. The Frenchman was immediately replaced by veteran Didier Drogba, who scored from the penalty spot.
In-form striker Diego Costa missed the tie because of a nagging hamstring injury and is likely to sit out the trip to Old Trafford. Some reports suggest the Brazilian-born Spain international will be out of action for at least three weeks. Costa’s absence will give United a huge boost, especially as the latter’s defense has struggled to contain strikers of a much lower quality this season.
With Rémy and Costa both missing for the Blues, the west London side may be forced into starting Drogba in Manchester. With United having leaked at least goal in every game except one this season, they will take heart from the fact Chelsea’s main strikers are going to miss the game.
The match also marks the reunion of coaches Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho who previously worked together at Barcelona. Van Gaal famously promoted the then interpreter to his “third assistant” at the Camp Nou. Van Gaal said after the Monday night game against West Brom that United can still win the title. Whether that was a cocky comment from the self-confessed “arrogant” man or just a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun, a victory for United against the run away leaders would make the rest of the Premier League stand up and take notice. After the two sides have met in Manchester on Sunday, either United will either be considered a bet for a top four spot come the end of the season, or all the money will be on Chelsea to take the title back to London.
With Diego Costa still struggling with hamstring injury and Loic Remy facing a race to be fit for Sunday's game after hurting his groin in the 6-0 win against Maribor, Mourinho may have to turn to the 36-year-old veteran at Old Trafford, Didier Drogba on Sunday.
Drogba may have scored 158 goals for the Blues in his two spells, scoring his first goal for the club last night since the Champions League final, but less than a handful of those came against Sir Alex Ferguson's team.
In 19 matches against United in all competitions, Drogba scored a measly three goals
If we look a bit closer at the numbers, Drogba may not have got on the scoresheet too many times but he has played a pivotal role - for good and bad - in matches between the two sides.
His first goal against United was the only goal of a truly terrible FA Cup final in 2007, one of the worst in recent memory; but it was a goal that handed Chelsea a trophy.
Drogba had to wait almost three years for his next goal against United, but again it was a massively important one, if highly contentious. In the title decider at Old Trafford in April 2010, Drogba scored a goal with 10 minutes remaining that effectively handed Chelsea the Premier League title - but the striker was offside.
His third and final goal came in the 2011 Champions League last-16 tie, again at Old Trafford. Chelsea lost 3-1 over two legs, a result that would lead to Carlo Ancelotti leaving the club in the summer.
Drogba also played a pivotal role in the 2008 Champions League final, but for the wrong reasons if you are a Chelsea fan. In extra-time, with Chelsea on top, the striker was sent off in Russia for pointlessly slapping Nemanja Vidic. The Blues would go on to lose the final in a penalty shoot-out.
Despite his lack of goals Chelsea's record when Drogba is in the team against Manchester United is good.
Of the 19 games he's been involved in Chelsea have won a slight majority, eight, drawing four and losing seven. But one of those draws and one of those defeats came in the largely pointless Community Shield, giving Drogba a more respectable eight wins from 17 matches.
Whether the striker ends up starting at Old Trafford on Sunday is a big if, but, as ever, he will certainly attract a lot of attention one way or the other.
Culled from thisdaylive.com
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