Kane Greenaway
Not many people would have thought we’d being going into this Chelsea fixture on the back of six straight wins. Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester City have been brushed aside by scintillating attacking football matched with a collective team spirit and ambition. It really feels like the Louis van Gaal philosophy, of which we have heard so much, has finally fallen into place. After months of seeming disorganisation and a tactical mess, this talented and hardworking group of individuals look like a team. Van Gaal suddenly looks like the master tactician we believe that we appointed last summer.
The match at Stamford Bridge, this Saturday, will be the biggest test of them all. If beating Spurs, Liverpool and City cast aside doubts of this groups’ capacity to make the top four, then beating Chelsea at the Bridge would be the icing on the cake. Beating the apparent champions elect in their own backyard, might offer us a glimpse into an exciting future of success. On current form this could well be a title decider next season.
It will be an incredibly tough match. Our recent record away to Chelsea is poor with one league win since 2002. The Blues have always been a bit of a bogey team for us, dating back to the 1990s. Always difficult opponents never more so than they are now. Mourinho has got them organised and ruthless again. Efficiency is always the hallmark of the Portuguese’s teams. They possess individual talent but they are a more effective team, a well-oiled machine where every player knows his role offensively and defensively.
Their strength I believe is also Chelsea’s weakness. They can be pedestrian at times, Paris Saint Germain made them look very ordinary in the Champions League. They are on a great unbeaten run but have laboured through games in recent weeks. If we can cut off the supply to Eden Hazard and continue with our high pressing game then we have a great chance. Confidence will be high and we look like a team that can score goals and tear opponents apart.
If we win, it will be a narrow victory that will be tense at times. Manchester United don’t do it any other way! I fancy Wayne Rooney to net a goal and perhaps we can hit a second on the break. Would be nice to see Juan Mata prove a point to his old manager by scoring our second and ultimately winning goal. History in this fixture suggests we’ll concede a controversial penalty. But we’ll hang on for a huge three points.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 United (Hazard; Rooney, Mata)
Holly Hunt
Travelling to Stamford Bridge is always a daunting ordeal, particularly when they’re a side almost as unplayable as one Marouane Fellaini. However, despite the pundits swaying towards a Red city prior to Sunday’s derby, nobody called Manchester United putting four past our free falling noisy neighbours. Louis van Gaal’s men have been making a habit of pulling off somewhat unexpected results in make or break encounters (such as that resounding 3-0 victory over Spurs) so we wouldn’t find ourselves too swayed should the Red Devil’s defy the odds and take a step closer to a within-sniffing-distance Arsenal.
Mourinho’s men’s defence is perhaps slightly tighter than that of our local rivals but in the absence of Diego Costa, we could find ourselves matching their tally if not exceeding it. Two highly-rated shot-stoppers between the sticks could have a say in the matter though. Therefore, I’ll go for even odds at a 2-2 deadlock. Wayne Rooney, man in form for our good selves, I can see getting on the scoresheet alongside Juan Mata who will inevitably set out to show his former club what they’re missing. And he won’t be alone in midfield, with his sides settled selection in the middle of the park a set of world beaters.
Prediction: Chelesea 2-2 United (Rooney, Mata)
Kane Brooker
With our recent run of form, many would expect it to continue for the remainder of the season. However, this is where I believe it ends. Undoubtedly, the victory over City with an impressive one, which could be the highlight of the season. While knocking four past our noisy neighbours makes the victory that little bit nicer, let’s not forget they lost to Crystal Palace six days earlier. Following our 2-1 win over Liverpool, they later witnessed Arsenal knock four past the Reds in their next game. And let’s not forget Tottenham conceding three against Leicester City, could only hold out for a goalless draw with Burnley, and lost to a struggling Aston Villa.
While the recent results for the Reds cannot be undermined and demoralized; all our ‘big-name’ opponents have faced struggling spells in recent times. Of course, taking maximum points in all fixture shows positive times for Louis van Gaal after his shaky spell at the helm, but I believe this remarkable feat could now come to an end on Saturday. Chelsea’s last defeat came in the shock FA Cup upset at the hands of Bradford City. The Blues were set to storm for victory – except from a sloppy fifteen minutes. Their last league defeat came on New Year’s Day, in which an in-form Harry Kane was ultimately the difference. Chelsea are strong, and could prove too strong.
At the start of the season, Chelsea were always tipped to win the league. On paper their side was clearly one of the best in the league, and many of those named have proved their worth. Diego Costa will be a substantial loss for Jose Mourinho, and United will hope to captivate on their loss. However, it seems to be a battle of talent versus form as they prepare to host the Red Devils. The likes of Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia and Marouane Fellaini – who have become some of the squad’s most relied on players – cannot be classified as world-class, and are pushing the club based on good form. The strength and experience of the Blues could prove too much, even for David De Gea – who is enjoying the form of his life.
For me, Chelsea will edge the fixture. While I can certainly see United scoring, and after missing out on a goal during the derby, Wayne Rooney will be pushing to add his fifteenth of the season and edge closer to a number of records. However, Eden Hazard and Loic Remy could conclude the magical run of the Red Devils.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 United (Hazard, Remy; Rooney)
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