What United must do the
Champions League final is in the
future but there is a present
challenge which is blue, in the form
of Chelsea.
What does Alex Ferguson need
to do?
Between being cautious and going
gung-ho? They lead the table with
three points and a point from
today's match will not be a disaster
- so playing on the counter with the
pace of Wayne Rooney, Nani and
Javier Hernandez, could be the
preferred option.
In the champions league win over
Chelsea, United showed a patient
side and the ability of Ryan Giggs to
play the killer pass was key to the
two-legged win, even though the
two sides mirrored a 4-4-2
formation.
So today, Rooney will have to drop
into the hole but he must be
supported there by Giggs - a feature
that was missing in the 1-0 loss to
Arsenal last Sunday. Rooney was
too isolated and was suffocated by
the attentions of Alex Song and
Aaron Ramsey. Michael Carrick
must get back to the groove he
showed against Chelsea in the
Champions League clashes.
What Chelsea must not do
Chelsea must go into today's match
with the notion that there is nothing
to lose, and that trophies are not
won by second-place finishers.
Chelsea have reverted to their tried
and trusted 4-3-3 formation and
have scored 11 goals in their last
four matches. Against Tottenham,
Carlo Ancelotti tried to pair Didier
Drogba and Fernando Torres but
the experiment did not work out too
well. So expect Drogba to start with
Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda.
Ramires should also start with Frank
Lampard and Mikel Obi.
As it showed against Arsenal, United
do not like players running at them
like Jack Wilshire did, so Ramires,
though not as skilful as Wilshire, can
still commit the midfielders and
defenders to track back. Branislav
Ivanovic will take up his battle
against Nani and Ashley Cole could
also bejoined in battle with Antonio
Valencia. Chelsea have momentum
but United have proven over the
years that they do not accept defeat
until the final whistle.
Flashback
In the 1995/96 league title run-in,
Newcastle manager, Kevin Keegan
had a public break-down; live on
television after being needled by the
'master' in psychological warfare,
Alex Ferguson.
Keegan, while responding to
questions after a match against
Leeds, lost his cool over Ferguson's
claim that teams tried harder to beat
Man Utd than Newcastle.
"I've kept really quiet, but I'll tell you
something: he went down in my
estimation when he said that,'
Keegan said.
He continued, "I'll tell ya - you can
tell him now, he'll be watching -
we're still fighting for this title. And
I'll tell you honestly, I will love it if
we beat them - love it!"
Newcastle ended up second after
United had clawed back a 12-point
deficit with the pressure of mind
games with United manager Alex
Ferguson appeared to have taken its
toll on Keegan. Newcastle were thus
denied a first title since 1927. Man
Utd led the table by two points with
one game left, and beat Tottenham
3-0 to claim the trophy.
Quotes
"If you don't recognise who won
the league the year before, you're
very foolish. It is not easy winning
the league, even if it was only by a
point. They still won the league and
they're a very experienced,
formidable side and anybody who
finishes above Chelsea will win the
league." - Alex Ferguson predicted in
November that the season would
come down to a fight between his
side and the Stamford Bridge outfit
"Obviously, it gives Chelsea a major
chance now and that's what
happens. They got great decisions
for them. We never seem to get
these kinds of decisions. They seem
to be getting them. They got one to
win the league at Old Trafford last
season so that's a worry." - Alex
Ferguson started his mind games
on Sunday immediately his side lost
1-0 to Arsenal as he accused
referees of favouring Chelsea
"You need to use character and
personality to play this match. Both
teams have that, but it is the
momentum. It is the best moment
to play there because now our
condition is good and the
momentum is also. But obviously it
will not be easy to play there. I don't
think we are better [than United]. I
think we have the same power, the
same strength, and the same
ability." - Carlo Ancelotti after the 2-1
win over Tottenham last Saturday
"We know if we want to win the
game we have to play with
confidence. The results against them
in the Champions League were very
good. I think that gives us the
psychological advantage. We just
have to concentrate on our football
and winning the game. If we do that
then everything will be fine. If we
win this one then it is a great
advantage for us. It is nearly over
then. We have a great chance." -
Nani saying United hold a
psychological edge over Chelsea in
today's encounter
The referee - Howard Webb
When the name of the referee for
the Man Utd versus Chelsea match
was revealed on Monday, United
fans gave a collective sigh of relief
whilst Chelsea fans started fearing
the worst.
Ken Ochonogor, a sports presenter
and an avid United fan put the
appointment succinctly.
"When we played Chelsea, they
brought Atkinson, who is a Chelsea
fan so the Premier League had to
balance it by giving us 'our' referee.
Now we are sure that the league will
be won at Old Trafford on Sunday."
And Webb's alleged bias for United
started back in the 2008/2009
season. A match between
Tottenham Hotspurs and United in
April 2009 was the day this legend
was born.
United were 2-0 down to
Tottenham at half-time with the title
race also balanced precariously
when Webb awarded Michael
Carrick a more than dubious penalty
after he lost the ball and fell over
Tottenham goalkeeper, Heurelho
Gomes in the box in the 56th
minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored and
United, mounted a famous
comeback. United finally won 5-2
but there is the likelihood that the
comeback would have been
impossible if Carrick had not been
awarded that penalty.
Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas said
afterwards: "I think it was a case of a
referee crumbling under the
pressure at Old Trafford really than
making decisions.
"One thing which struck me about it
was that he didn't even think. It was
like he'd already made his mind up
when he came out for the second
half that he was going to give
something."
Webb was demoted to the
Championship the following week
as punishment for the mistake but
United still went on to win the title.
Liverpool were also left fuming in
January when Webb awarded an
early penalty to Dimitar Berbatov to
give United the lead, a decision that
was classified as a 'joke' by
Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish.
To rub salt into an open wound,
Webb then sent off Steven Gerrard
for a two-footed lunge on Michael
Carrick, though it must be said that
it was the right decision.
Afterwards it became a Twitter rant
as former Liverpool player, Ryan
Babel, posted a mocked-up picture
of Webb in a United shirt and the
Football Association promptly
handed down a £10,000 fine for the
Dutch player.
Also to help the myth grow, Webb
has awarded United three penalties
in the last four games he has
officiated at Old Trafford.
But there in comes the fear that
Webb will try too much on Sunday
to be seen as fair, thereby
hampering his ability to give key
decisions the way of United.
It is hoped for Webb's case and
other referees that today's match
will pass without any incident and
that United and Chelsea do not
crowd the referee when there are
contentious issues to be addressed.
Managers' head to head
Juventus 2 Man Utd 3; agg 3-4;
(Champions League semi-final,
second leg, April 1999)
AC Milan 3 Man Utd 0; agg: 5-3;
(Champions League semi-final,
second leg, May 2007)
Man Utd 2 Chelsea 2 (Chelsea won
4-1 on penalties); (FA Community
Shield, August 2009)
Chelsea 1 Man Utd 0 - (Premier
League, November 2009)
Man Utd 2, Chelsea 1 (agg 3-1);
(Champions League quarter-final,
second leg, April 2011) </