Chelsea vs Manchester United: All Hell To Break Loose In Chelsea’s Bridge
Chelsea
Manchester United
Chelsea vs Manchester United: A Reminder Of The 2008 Champions League Final
Games between these two titans have long been a true source of entertainment for a vast portion of football fans around the globe. Their hot rivalry has had effect in all competitions over the years, and 2008 saw the two teams battle it out for the Champions League final in Moscow.
Manchester United 1-1 (6-5 on pen) Chelsea: Brief Recap
On May 21 that year, at the Luzhniki Stadium, the Blues were given the precious opportunity to win their first ever Champions League title. Winger Cristiano Ronaldo first placed the Mancunians in front with a wonderful header after 26 minutes, but an equalizer from Frank Lampard just before half-time sent Chelsea—then led by Avram Grant—back into the game.
A goalless second half couldn’t produce much apart from poignant suspense, and the match had to continue to extra time after 90 minutes of play without a winner. The additional 30 minutes also failed to decide the tie, and hence, the only option left was to move on to penalties. Although goalscorer Ronaldo missed his shot from the spot, brilliant efforts by Tevez, Carrick, Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson and Giggs were enough to give Manchester United their third Champions League title in history.
Manchester United-Chelsea Video Highlights
Chelsea vs Manchester United: Carlo Ancelotti To Prove He Is Still A Reliable Coach
The two-time Champions League winner is visibly not a man to underestimate. The Italian coach first lifted his European trophy as a manager in 2003 with AC Milan, following a 3-2 victory on penalties over fellow Serie A members Juventus in the final.
Ancelotti nearly repeated his achievement two years later when he conducted the Rossoneri to Istanbul to face English side Liverpool. However, notwithstanding a 3-0 lead that AC Milan had secured in the first half, the Reds made a stunning second-period comeback to level the game to 3-3 and enter extra time. Finally, the Milanese lost 3-2 on penalties, in a match that could really have been theirs.
2007 marked Ancelotti’s return to the top with the Devil, as he took his revenge against Liverpool in the Champions League final to grab his second European title. His triumph was however a controversial one, but boldness on his behalf obliterated all complaints.
This season, it would be a significant success for the Chelsea boss if he was to rule the 50-country continent once again. Ancelotti has been through stressful times lately, and the only way he could clear his image as a great coach would be to realize one of his supporters’ wildest dreams. Considering his side’s current inconsistence, such an undertaking is sure to cause a lot of rewarding pain; but this is when the qualities of responsibleness and authority need to be displayed the most.
Chelsea vs Manchester United: Chelsea’s Need To Save Their Season And Gain Back Their Fans
Being 11 points behind EPL table leaders Manchester United—who have played a game more—actually means that Chelsea’s initial hopes of winning the Premier League this season have been downgraded to hopes of participating in next season’s UEFA Champions League. Unsurprisingly, no player of the Blues has his name in the top 3 spots of the league’s Top Scorers and Assist Leaders charts, and the situation is no different in the FA Cup—a competition in which Chelsea are no longer present.
This leaves the ongoing Champions League competition as the Londoners’ only target at this point, and the only thing they could do next is: save their season by imposing themselves at European level. Yes, one more mistake, and the Pensioners could lose it all this season. With most of their original goals now turned into impossibilities, they would do well to make the most of what they have left.
Definitely, losing this evening at the Stamford Bridge in the Chelsea vs Manchester United clash is not an option for the defending English champions. As a matter of fact, not only will a defeat rudely knock them down to lower grounds, but also will it push a reasonable percentage of their fans worldwide to lose faith in the team. Should that happen, then Coach Carlo Ancelotti will very much likely become the ‘man to blame’, whereas in reality, the punishment from upset supporters will have to be received by the Blues collectively.
In any event, such a scenario is not one that Chelsea players would want to have in mind before stamping on the field for their big moment against their fierce archrivals; but regardless, they will have to be aware of the ‘unbearable consequences’ that could fall upon them if ever they fail to leave up to expectations. Presumably, it is at this time that one is allowed to use the expression “Do or Die”.
Chelsea vs Manchester United: Fernando Torres’ Sole Option
Thinking far in search of what Fernando Torres’ one and only option against Manchester United is simply isn’t necessary. The answer is nothing but the most obvious thing: to perform as a £50 million striker. Now then, one needs to roam around what a £50 million forward would normally do in a clash as big as the one taking place in Chelsea’s Bridge this evening.
1) Scoring
Indeed, netting at least a goal in such an encounter can be extremely vital. With Chelsea’s defence containing the likes of Petr Cech, Ashley Cole and John Terry, it is not certain that the Red Devils will manage to get their needed away goal. Thus, the completion of work in front on behalf of the Blues could really give them a great advantage ahead of the second leg encounter.
2) Playing a team game
Torres was accused of being selfish while he played under the Liverpool jersey. Well, performing with that very defect tonight would bring nothing but destruction to the Chelsea team, who will be depending on group work to defeat their strong opponents. Flowing passes in the build-up of attacks are never a predicament when done with accuracy, and this evening, passing could exceedingly help in outplaying a Manchester United defence that often struggles with defensive confusions.
3) Playing with decency
When things do not go in Fernando Torres’ way, the Spanish striker is very much likely to dive in order to win dangerously-positioned free-kicks. Doing so tonight out of malice could cost him his presence on the field, and hence stir up regrets.
Of course, though there are several other plans that a £50 million striker could carry out on the pitch against Fergie’s fighters, completing the three tasks above would basically ensure that the Chelsea front is effective. But will Torres be able to wake up and coat himself with power and competence when he is needed to? Truly, he’d better...
The former Atletico Madrid star has only managed to get one single shot on target since his arrival at the club owned by Roman Abramovich. This is clearly a poor record from the expensive Spaniard; yet, having been rested for a while on Saturday in his team’s 1-1 draw away to Stoke City, he will be expected to be in good shape for his big test.
Chelsea vs Manchester United: United Aiming For Revenge
The very last Chelsea vs Manchester United encounter, which took place in the Premier League on 01 March 2011, left the Red Devils impatient to take quick revenge over their blue rivals. The hosts actually stole the show by coming from 1-0 down to controversially win the match 2-1. It was a game that had its ensuing debates on the referee’s decisions over his cards, and Coach Ferguson did not hesitate to publicly spit out his personal opinions.
With his defender Nemanja Vidic being sent off late in the game, Fergie was furious upon the fact that opposing defender David Luiz escaped a red card minutes before when he tripped striker Wayne Rooney, while the match was still tied at 1-1. Nevertheless, harsh talks and complaints are all of no use now, given that Manchester United presently have a chance to ‘get to business’ with Chelsea.
Revenge is the only thing the visitors in this evening’s Champions League game will be seeking, and a fired up mentality could transform them into wilder monsters at the detriment of the home side. Taking this fact into account, a draw will not even be enough to calm down the ferocious Devils of United; a comprehensible victory will be the real deal.
Chelsea vs Manchester United: Man United’s Need To Avoid Last Season’s Quarterfinal Mistake
Manchester United were shockingly disqualified from the UEFA Champions League on away goals last season, after bizarrely drawing 4-4 with German hunters Bayern Munich. The Red Devils won 3-2 at the Old Trafford after losing 2-1 away from home, and among the reasons for their disqualification, one could cite Wayne Rooney’s mysterious dip in physical strength.
The Englishman obtained a late ankle injury at the Allianz Arena, and the impact his wound propelled in the team was nowhere near negligible. This season, the Mancunians will be looking to capitalize on any chance they get, and should they snatch an away advantage in the first leg this time around, then they will be looking to preserve it and finish their work profitably in the return leg.
Should they rather be dominated in terms of the result at the Stamford Bridge, then locking their defence and loading their front guns will probably be their next solution to survive. Still, no matter what happens in the first leg, progressing into the semi-finals remains the prime goal.
What would certainly hurt Ferguson and his men the most would be to crush out at this stage of the competition, knowing that the ones behind their disqualification would be their long-time enemies. It is for this reason that all cards will be played by the legendary British boss, as failure to dictate his adversaries just as he did in 2008 might not be forgiven by all his club’s devotees.
Another interesting fact also lies in the fact that—in the case where Manchester United succeed in cancelling Chelsea’s Champions League dreams, then Manager Fergie could be the one behind any major change that will follow in the squad of the Blues. In that case, any subsequent alteration in the Londoners’ team of coaches or their squad would possibly transmute Sir Alex into the ultimate shutter of the Blues’ disrupted era.
The Premier League leaders are anticipated to field in Wayne Rooney—fresh from a hat-trick at the weekend—as their front’s leader this evening. Rooney’s presence in the last Chelsea vs Manchester United clash was highly notorious, but the forward is expected to perform with a relaxed spirit tonight, in search of a positive end result that would earn him individual success, as well as a collectively meaningful bonus prior to the return leg on April 12, 2011.
Chelsea vs Manchester United
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