Manchester United and Chelsea have become familiar foes over the last decade with this Saturday’s clash being the 34th time the teams have met in that time. These games include regular title deciding encounters, the FA Cup final in 2007 and of course the Champions League final which United won on penalties in 2008.
Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (26/10/2014)
The previous meeting between the two teams was a typically tight affair with both seemingly content with avoiding defeat rather than going all out for the victory. Chelsea looked to have snatched all three points when veteran striker Didier Drogba, only playing because Diego Costa was injured, gave the Blues the lead. But Louis van Gaal had already managed to instil the fighting spirit that had been missing the previous season. United battled hard to rescue a point and duly got their reward when Robin van Persie smashed home an equaliser in the final minute. Cue wild celebrations at Old Trafford.
Chelsea 3-1 Manchester United (19/01/2014)
The last time the two teams met at Stamford Bridge, a ground which United failed to win a league game at for over a decade, normal service was resumed with David Moyes’ side being well beaten. United were perhaps unlucky to be on the wrong end of the score-line but it was a match typical of Moyes’ time at the club. Samuel Eto’o opened the scoring after 17 minutes and Chelsea never really looked back. With the reds’ confidence well and truly shaken, Chelsea were 3-0 up by the 49th minute with Eto’o completing his hat-trick. Javier Hernandez replied late on but there was to be no repeat of the comeback from the same deficit two years ago. This was not the same United.
Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea (26/08/2013)
David Moyes’ welcoming and the ushering in of a new era at Manchester United was one of the few memorable moments in this match that was far from a classic. In Moyes’ first home game, his team dominated possession but failed to break down Chelsea. The returning Jose Mourinho seemed happy for his side to avoid defeat and they did just that, playing out a dour 0-0 draw. Still for United and David Moyes it was four points from a possible six. Sadly this promising start was as good as it got.
Manchester United 0-1 Chelsea (05/05/2013)
Again this meeting of the two teams was overshadowed by a man in the dugout. The imminent retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, and the title having already been secured, explained this rather drab game. For all the hysteria off the pitch, very little managed to make its way on to it. The match was won by Chelsea late on, Juan Mata eventually being credited with the winner. Eight months later the Spaniard would join United in a club record deal.
Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United (01/04/2013)
Manchester United went into this FA Cup Quarter-Final replay disappointed that they hadn’t already put their opponents to the sword at the first attempt. They were 2-0 up inside the opening eleven minutes but let their commanding lead slip in the second half. A 2-2 draw at Old Trafford meant that a replay was required at Stamford Bridge. The stadium had been a bogey ground for United for so long, but in a remarkably open league match in October, Ferguson’s side had ended their jinx. The winner had been netted by Javier Hernandez after United had let a 2-0 lead slip. There was no repeat in the cup and Ferguson’s hopes of lifting another trophy at Wembley were dashed at the Bridge. Demba Ba score the decisive goal just after half time which meant Manchester United’s search for a 12th FA Cup triumph would extend into a tenth year.
Comments.
Loading comments…