Manchester United play host to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side on Sunday with most neutral fans expecting a fairly one-sided outcome.
Chelsea are currently league leaders, three points ahead of Southampton having played a game less, while Manchester United reside in seventh place and four points outside the Top 4 having played a game less than their closest rivals.
In what promises to be a tactical battle, Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho have always adapted in whatever way they deem necessary in order to make sure their teams win. Van Gaal was quoted during the World Cup as saying “I play with five defenders because my defenders aren’t the best.”
Van Gaal of course was once Mourinho’s boss and while he recognizes the Portuguese managers talents he accepts there is a difference between them. Speaking before their Champions League clash in 2010, the current Manchester United boss said, “He [Mourinho] trains to win. I train to play beautiful football and win. My way is more difficult.”
While it’s hard to disagree, Mourinho’s men this season have been the stand out side scoring everyone else with 23 goals in their opening eight games. With so much star quality on the pitch, it’ll be the key individual battles on the pitch that win this game.
FALCAO vs TERRY
Falcao scored a hat-trick the last time he faced Chelsea for Atletico Madrid [Credit: thetimes.co,uk]Colombian striker Radamel Falcao is set to be restored to the starting line-up against Chelsea after being rested for Monday’s draw against West Brom. While his name will instantly strike fear into Chelsea fans’ hearts for any who remember his stunning hat-trick in the UEFA Super Cup in 2012, his form since his arrival in England has been hot and cold. He got two assists in his first two games before finally breaking his duck with the winner against Everton. He’s yet to set the Premier League alight, but the talent is so clearly there and El Tigre is ready to be unleashed.
John Terry however is having a blinding season. A stalwart under Mourinho yet again, the Chelsea captain reached 500 not out in last weekend’s fixture and looks set to go on for a little while longer. He’s in good form and scored against Maribor at the weekend. He’ll need all his mobility and concentration to deal with Falcao if the striker is amped up for the game, but these are the fixtures John Terry was built for and it will be an enticing battle for both sides.
HERRERA vs MATIC
Nemanja Matic was linked with a move to Manchester United while at Benfica before he was snapped up (seemingly unopposed) by Chelsea for £24M last January. The Serbian’s talent is there for all to see and his partnership alongside Cesc Fabregas brings a perfect balance of skill, strength, passing, vision and protection to an already loaded midfield. Matic’s positioning is one of his strengths and he’ll need it to prevent the forward runs of Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria in the middle of the park.
Since Herrera’s £29M move in the summer, his performances have been of the highest quality. Providing endless energy with an appetite for a tackle in the middle of the pitch, the Spaniard likes to take the game by the scruff of the neck and go for the opponents throat. He’ll need to use his full array of talents to keep the Chelsea midfield duo quiet, but if Chelsea keep their focus on his Argentine counterpart too much, Herrera possesses the quality to punish them.
JONES vs COSTA
Before his injury, Phil Jones was probably Manchester United’s best player this season. His aggression, aerial ability and excellent habit of being able to pull off a last ditch tackle made his very difficult to get the better of. He returned on Monday and had a relatively good game, despite the final result. As a unit Manchester United looked fairly solid against West Brom, although they conceded twice from just two shots on target. He will need to cut out any individual errors if United are to stand a chance of keeping a clean sheet.
Diego Costa is a major doubt according to Jose Mourinho, although the Chelsea boss admits he has “a little chance” of playing at Old Trafford. Louis Van Gaal believes Costa will start, and so do I. Costa has 9 goals in the Premier League this season since his move from Atletico Madrid in the summer. He’s taken the league by storm and his nasty streak makes him the perfect compliment to Jose Mourinho’s management. His power and pace will cause United problems all night long but his movement could be even more of a threat. His runs into the channels allow space for Hazard, Willian, Oscar and Fabregas to run from deep and it could be these runners that end up as match winners. Injured or not, if he plays United will have to be at their best to stop him and Chelsea running away with this game.