PRE-MATCH BRIEFING CHELSEA v MANCHESTER UNITED
On Sunday, Chelsea have the chance to put clear blue water between ourselves and the team that finished above last season. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton weigh up the contest.
TALKING POINTS
The points gap between Manchester United and Chelsea (and Liverpool, who came from behind to beat their north-west rivals last week) is currently six points. Can any importance be attached to a margin like that at such an early stage?
The leading two have only played four league games, and United one fewer. At the same stage last season, United had just two points to Chelsea's ten - even worse. But Chelsea went on to lose at Villa, and Ferguson's side won their next two to close the gap instantly.
But if Chelsea do defeat Manchester Utd a nine point gap starts to look slightly more interesting, though our opponents will still have a game in hand. That home meeting with Fulham, suspended because of their Super Cup involvement, has yet to be rescheduled, however.
Worse for them, December brings the Fifa Club World Cup and the rescheduling of Wigan's visit to Old Trafford. United could find themselves playing catch-up for an uncomfortably long period of this campaign if they lose on Sunday.
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KEY STAT Manchester United have not lost back-to-back in the Barclays Premier League for just under three-and-a-half years (122 games), since Norwich and Everton defeated them in successive games in April 2005. |
The FA hearing's decision to uphold Chelsea's appeal on behalf of the red card shown to John Terry last Saturday of course means he receives no punishment for the foul, even though the player himself may well have been expecting a yellow card for the challenge. He is available again for this match, as well as the visits to Portsmouth (Carling Cup) and Stoke City.
Nemanja Vidic, who was shown two yellow cards at Liverpool, will be missing on Sunday. Whereas Chelsea had a ready-made replacement in Alex, who performed so heroically last winter, United's options are less clear-cut.
Having returned for almost half-an-hour on Wednesday following his long layoff, Ronaldo may be used sparingly again, despite the impact he had against Villarreal. The last time he fired at a Chelsea goal, Petr Cech dived to his right and dealt with it, much as he had every other previous shot by the Footballer of the Year.
Cech's penalty shootout save gave every Blues fan hope, but of course it came after his header in the same match in Moscow, a first ever goal against the Blues. If Ronaldo does play, it is hardly the scary prospect some newspapers are presenting.
As welcome as the win and much of the performance against Bordeaux on Tuesday were, the performance of the evening was undoubtedly that by CFR 1907 Cluj, who beat Roma 2-1 away in the stadium that will host the Champions League final in May. The results mean that Chelsea are leaders in Group A, and the other bookies' favourites to fight for a qualifying place are already playing catch-up. What a difference to the aftermath of Rosenborg last season.
Weekend fixtures involving last season's top four
|
Sat |
3pm |
Liverpool v Stoke |
|
Sat |
5.30pm |
Bolton v Arsenal |
|
Sun |
2pm |
Chelsea v Man Utd |
TACTICAL BRIEF
United had won their eight previous league encounters with Liverpool before the 1-2 defeat last weekend. The four-season record coincided with Carlos Quieroz's presence on the bench, apparently responsible for much of the team's tactical approach before and during games.
When Liverpool equalised United's early goal at Anfield, they took a grip of the game that was never wrested away from them. Sir Alex Ferguson removed all three of his ineffectual midfielders - Michael Carrick (due to injury), Scholes and Anderson - but the pattern of United's play remained largely unchanged and Ryan Giggs, Owen Hargreaves and Nani produced little that was positive.
At the same time the enigma of how to harness Wayne Rooney's undoubted talent for the greatest attacking impact still eludes the Old Trafford staff. If he was a car you'd worry about your mileage, as well as wonder whether the sat nav was suggesting the shortest route.
The interesting thing is how two strikers who prefer a roving role - Rooney and expensive new signing Dimitar Berbatov, when fit - will knit together. Also, even if they find the right formula for the three-man midfield, who will make way for the Bulgarian? Carlos Tevez, Ronaldo or Rooney? United used four in midfield against Villarreal.
Ferguson blasted the 'Conference' level defending that cost points at Anfield, and Vidic and Brown were dropped for the midweek visit of Villarreal. But Gary Neville still looked short of match sharpness at right back after so many missed games, failing to deliver when in good attacking positions. Chastened by the drop, Wes Brown will probably return on the right.
Against the spearless Spaniards it was virtually impossible to judge the youthful centre-back Jonny Evans. He has played just four times for Utd - largely in the Champions League - but 30-plus league matches on loan at Sunderland. He featured for the Mackems last March when Chelsea won 1-0 courtesy of a JT goal.
Ferguson will also weigh up the fact that he may have to square up to a hungry Didier Drogba, who has reduced more experienced defenders than he to rubble.
John O'Shea has been a marginal figure this season, but has played centre-half for United in the past and acquitted himself well. He may partner Rio Ferdinand in Vidic's absence.
As against Villarreal Ferguson will deploy pacy midfielders against Chelsea's full backs but must be very wary of Chelsea's power through the middle. Last season the injury-restricted Hargreaves rarely played a string of successive games (after a cameo against Liverpool he started on Wednesday), and Michael Carrick is ruled out through injury.
Statistics point to a close game. It's been 81 Premier League games since United and 35 since Chelsea lost by more than one goal.
WE HAVE HISTORY
The gut-wrenching Moscow final will take a long time to leave most Chelsea fans' minds. Missing out narrowly in the league too means that victory on Sunday would bring relief as well as joy.
Four of United's most recent five visits have ended that way; the odd habit over many years of each winning on the other's patch has gone out of fashion these last four years.
Last season this fixture was decided by Michael Ballack's penalty, arguably the most emphatic Chelsea spot-kick since Mark Stein's last-gasp stanchion-buster against Spurs in February 1994.
In 32 games between the clubs since the Premier League started, Chelsea have won 10, United have won nine and there have been 13 draws, Chelsea goals 42, United goals 39.
The Red Devils have not beaten the Blues at Stamford Bridge in the Abramovich era. Paul Scholes, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the last time the Red Devils came away from SW6 with three points in April 2002.
This has been a significant fixture for over a century. Chelsea and Manchester United drew a crowd of 67,000 here on Good Friday 1906. Both sides were vying for promotion from Division Two and it ended in a draw.
Ray Wilkins, reappointed to the Chelsea coaching staff this week, started his career brilliantly at Stamford Bridge before being sold by manager Danny Blanchflower in 1979. He moved to Old Trafford, but was never quite the same attacking threat again. Welcome home, Butch.
Our Premier League record at Stamford Bridge against United is as follows
|
1992/93 |
Drew 1-1 |
|
1993/94 |
Chelsea won 1-0 |
|
1994/95 |
Man Utd won 3-2 |
|
1995/96 |
Man Utd won 4-1 |
|
1996/97 |
Drew 1-1 |
|
1997/98 |
Man Utd won 1-0 |
|
1998/99 |
Drew 0-0 |
|
1999/00 |
Chelsea won 5-0 |
|
2000/01 |
Drew 1-1 |
|
2001/02 |
Man Utd won 3-0 |
|
2002/03 |
Drew 2-2 |
|
2003/04 |
Chelsea won 1-0 |
|
2004/05 |
Chelsea won 1-0 |
|
2005/06 |
Chelsea won 3-0 |
|
2006/07 |
Drew 0-0 |
|
2007/08 |
Chelsea won 2-1 |
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING MATCH
Chelsea 2 Man Utd 1
Premier League, Saturday April 26th 2008 at Stamford Bridge
Referee Alan Wiley
Crowd 41,828
|
Chelsea Manager Avram Grant.
Scorer Rooney (6) |
The game was sandwiched between the Chelsea v Liverpool and Man Utd v Barcelona Champions League semi-finals.
Other matches last season
5 Aug 2007 Community Shield (Wembley)
Man Utd..........1 Chelsea..........1
Giggs 35 Malouda 45
Att: 80,731
(Man Utd won 3-0 on pens)
23 Sep 2007 Premier League
Man Utd..........2 Chelsea..........0
Tevez 45
Saha 90 pen Att: 75,663
Man Utd..........1 Chelsea..........1
Ronaldo 26 Lampard 45
Att: 67,310
(Man Utd won 6-5 on pens after extra time)
Chelsea v Manchester United in all competitions
Games played 151
Chelsea wins 41
United wins 65
Draws 45
Head-to-head in the League at Stamford Bridge
Games played 66
Chelsea wins 20
United wins 29
Draws 17
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The referee is Mike Riley who last refereed Chelsea in the 4-4 draw at White Hart Lane in March. He has not presided over a Chelsea defeat since May 2006 and a Man Utd defeat since April 2004.
CHELSEA STATS
The Blues are on the longest current unbeaten run in the Premier League of 25 (18 wins and seven draws) matches since the defeat at the Emirates in December - our only loss in 35. We remain the only top flight club yet to lose a league game in 2008.
Chelsea are on a 15 game undefeated run (excluding penalty shoot-outs) since our last defeat in Turkey against Fenerbahçe on April 2nd.
Chelsea have not lost when scoring first in the Premier League since the 1-2 defeat at Tottenham in November 2006.
We have scored in each of the last 16 Premier League matches, since a goalless draw at home to Liverpool in February.
We are looking to extend our record unbeaten league run at Stamford Bridge to 85 games since our last defeat against Arsenal on February 21 2004.
The Blues are unbeaten in 104 consecutive domestic matches at Stamford Bridge (if penalty shootouts are excluded).
We are hoping to extend our club unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge in all competitions to 72 games since our last defeat on February 22 2006 when Barcelona beat a ten-man Chelsea 2-1 in the Champions League. That has been our only home defeat in the last 130 games since February 2004.
Chelsea's last six games
|
May 21 |
Man Utd |
N |
D 1-1 CL Final (lost 5-6 on pens aet) |
|
Aug 17 |
Portsmouth |
H |
W 4-0 |
|
Aug 24 |
Wigan |
A |
W 1-0 |
|
Aug 31 |
Tottenham |
H |
D 1-1 |
|
Sep 13 |
Man City |
A |
W 3-1 |
|
Sep 16 |
Bordeaux (UCL) |
H |
W 4-0 |
2008/09 scorers
Anelka 3, Lampard 3 (1 pen), J Cole 2, Deco 2, Belletti 1, Carvalho 1, Malouda 1.
MANCHESTER UTD STATS
United have a recent win percentage that will concern Sir Alex Ferguson: they have won only once in seven matches in all competitions (excluding penalty shoot-out victories). In their last 15 in the Premier League, though, their record is won 10, lost two.
Last season United scored the most goals in the Premier League (80) and conceded the fewest (22). They kept 21 clean sheets which was the same as Chelsea.
Their away record was 10 wins, five draws and four defeats winning 35 from a possible 57 points and was only bettered by Chelsea (42 points) and Arsenal (36).
71 per cent (57) of Man Utd's league goals last term were scored by Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney.
United didn't have a particularly successful time in the capital last season losing in the Premier League at Chelsea and West Ham, drawing with Arsenal and Tottenham and winning at Fulham.
United have won the Premier League on ten occasions and have 17 top flight victories in all, one behind Liverpool's record of 18.
If selected, Gary Neville will be making his 350th Premier League start.
United are one of seven clubs to have appeared in every season in the Premier League.
|
|
Pts |
Pos |
|
1992/93 |
84 |
1st |
|
1993/94 |
92 |
1st |
|
1994/95 |
88 |
2nd |
|
1995/96 |
82 |
1st |
|
1996/97 |
75 |
1st |
|
1997/98 |
77 |
2nd |
|
1998/99 |
79 |
1st |
|
1999/00 |
91 |
1st |
|
2000/01 |
80 |
1st |
|
2001/02 |
77 |
3rd |
|
2002/03 |
83 |
1st |
|
2003/04 |
75 |
3rd |
|
2004/05 |
77 |
3rd |
|
2005/06 |
83 |
2nd |
|
2006/07 |
89 |
1st |
|
2007/08 |
87 |
1st |
MOST RECENT LINE-UP
Sep 17, 2008 Villarreal (Champions League home) Drew 0-0
|
|
|
Aug 10 |
Portsmouth |
N |
D 0-0 Comm Shield (won 3-1 on pens) |
|
Aug 17 |
Newcastle |
H |
D 1-1 |
|
Aug 25 |
Portsmouth |
A |
W 1-0 |
|
Aug 29 |
Zenit St Petersburg |
N |
L 1-2 UEFA Super Cup |
|
Sep 13 |
Liverpool |
A |
L 1-2 |
|
Sep 17 |
Villarreal |
H |
D 0-0 Champions League |
Fletcher 2, Tevez 1, Vidic 1.
United's manager this decade
Sir Alex Ferguson November 1986 to date
NEW BOYS
Completed summer transfers
|
CHELSEA |
|
MANCHESTER UNITED |
OTHERWISE ENGAGED
Nemanja Vidic is suspended following his red card last weekend. John Terry's dismissal at Man City was overturned on appeal on Tuesday so he is available on Sunday.
