United travel to Stamford Bridge today looking for their first win there since 2001. It’s been a pretty miserable record over the past few years but there are positives to take from recent visits to the Bridge. United have been very unfortunate to lose the last two league encounters and there is a certain feeling of “our luck has to change sooner or later” coming from within the camp.
Playing Chelsea in the Champions League over two legs is something new and it promises to be an intriguing tie. United come into this game on the back of a great weekend in the Premier League but with a small cloud hanging over Wayne Rooney after he was charged for his outburst into one of the Sky Sports Cameras on Saturday. All eyes will be on Wazza on tonight and hopefully the thoughts of potentially spending the next two domestic fixtures in the stands will spur him on to making a big impact in the tie against Chelsea.
Rio Ferdinand and Anderson returned to training and both are said to be in contention to play a part at Stamford Bridge. Ferdinand is still a massive player and when paired with Vidic earlier on in the season the defence looked water tight. In saying that, if Rio doesn’t quite make it back in time I will have no worries about Chris Smalling. The former Fulham player has been a revelation this season and having made 27 appearances in his debut season is beginning to look well settled at the club.
Ando is probably less likely to play a part as Sir Alex has a few more options in the middle. It will be interesting to see if Fergie goes for two up top as he did when we went to Stamford Bridge last month or if he decides to flood the middle. It was refreshing to see Rooney and Hernandez start last time out and they caused problems in the first half, but in the second half Chelsea began to take control of possession and we could have done with an extra body in the middle. With the recent return of Antonio Valencia I think Sir Alex could go for pace out wide with Nani and Valencia and play Ryan Giggs or Park Ji Sung behind a lone striker, most likely Wayne Rooney.
The biggest difference between this game and any other we’ve played at Stamford Bridge is that 0-0 will not necessarily be a good result. An away goal is of critical importance. With Rio potentially slotting back into the defence, confidence levels high after the weekends action in the Premier League and our forward trio scoring regularly I think a big result could be on the cards.
Possible Starting XI: Van Der Sar, Fabio, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Valencia, Giggs, Rooney
Prediction: Chelsea 0-1 United
What do you think?
Submitted by Glory Glory Man Utd
