Here’s how Manchester United can beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
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Chelsea v Manchester United
English Premier League
Sunday, 08 November, 2009
Stamford Bridge
The last 5 titles in the Premier League have been shared by Manchester United and Chelsea, and as the two best sides in England go head to head on Sunday, it’s bound to be a memorable game no matter what the outcome.
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You’ve already read about five great Chelsea-United games from the past, and also read our United v Chelsea betting tips.
In this article we look at what Manchester United need to do to hold off, and maybe beat, Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and revisit the predictions made in this week’s Soccerlens Podcast (a must-listen for all football fans).
Chelsea’s advantage
For United, the game will be all about rectifying the mistakes in tactics and approach that they made at Anfield and ensuring that their system to counter-act Chelsea’s strengths and exploit their weaknesses is implemented properly and not left on the touchline.
With Ancelotti employing a diamond formation in the center of the park and playing two strong, mobile strikers up front, Chelsea are awesome through the middle but vulnerable on the flanks.
Add to this the fact that Chelsea are so strong in the second half of the game, and United have a real battle on their hands.
Can United hold the center?
United would benefit by playing three in central midfield, starting with Carrick as the playmaker and Fletcher and Anderson alongside him alternating between ball-winners and offensive threats.
Two pacy wide players who can run at the defence and beat their man (Valencia on the right and possibly Nani on the left, although Giggs / Rooney would do too) could then take up the advanced winger positions and not only exploit Chelsea’s lack of width but also pin down the opposition fullbacks, allowing United’s own fullbacks to push up and double-team Chelsea’s players.
The threat on the wings translates into pressure on the middle for Chelsea, who would then be forced to lose a man either from midfield or central defence to counter-act the threat posed at the wings. This in turn opens up more space for the central midfield and the target man up front (Berbatov, although he might need to be slapped before the game to fire him up) to get into scoring positions through the middle.
In defence United will need to close down spaces quickly to prevent Lampard and Drogba from shooting from long range while Vidic and Evans (or Brown) will need to defend out of their skins to keep Chelsea players away from EVDS, who’s going to be tested quite a lot in this game on set pieces. Defending corners will be a worry for United as well.
United could win this game if they can manage to avoid losing the battle in midfield and keep feeding the ball to the flanks and use their pace and width to pull Chelsea apart. Considering that Chelsea won their last two home games 5-0 and 4-0, it will be a tall order.
Chelsea v Manchester United Prediction
The Manchester United-Chelsea betting odds point to a home win and there’s little evidence from this season’s results to suggest otherwise. All the big players have lost games away from home (Arsenal to United and City, Chelsea to Villa and Wigan, United to Burnley and Liverpool) and the pattern looks set to continue.
However, this is unlikely to be a goal-fest and United are known for their late comebacks so it should be a tight, close finish, and we’re predicting an upset (assuming that United play according to plan).
Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Manchester United
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Topics: Chelsea, English Premier League, Manchester United, Match Reports
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My formation for United on Sunday (basically agree with your setup, just different players):
EVDS
Rafael-Vidic-Evans-Evra
Valencia-Fletcher-Giggs-Anderson-Rooney
Berbatov
I have elected for Rafael at RB cuz United need to put immense pressure on both flanks as you mentioned to pull thier midfileders out of postion and stop the threat of cole and bosingwa. and with brown or oshea on the right, who are not really ball payers I don’t see this happening. Fletcher shall drop in to cover for rafael when he bombs forward.
November 7th, 2009 @ 12:40elected for giggs in the middle cuz he’ll provide lot more intelligence in the middle which would be needed cuz of berba as lone stiker up top. and players can rotate around easily. giggs can go left to receive the ball from evra, while rooney cuts inside and anderson drops into giggs place while attacking, giving a lot more runners for berba. and while defending, drop back into the 4-5-1.
united won’t win that I can guarantee.
November 7th, 2009 @ 13:35@Shreyas – problem with Rafael is his vulnerability at set pieces and positioning in general when playing defence. Remember the Spurs game last season?
O’Shea does a much better job at right back, even when going forward. Or United could go with Neville, who’s great at going forward.
I agree – Fergie would play Giggs, so either that’s on the left (with Rooney as a second striker or a lone striker) or centrally as the support striker to Rooney up front (with Nani on the left).
Giggs in central midfield? I’d be surprised if Fergie goes with that, and I’d be surprised if he put Rooney on the left too.
But it might be the best way of getting a result at Stamford Bridge.
November 7th, 2009 @ 17:37Ahmed – Why would you be surprised if Giggs ended up in midfield? That’s where he played last year during the 3-0 victory.
November 7th, 2009 @ 17:42he shouldn’t play Giggs in central midfield because he doesn’t have the energy to compete with Ballack and Lampard for the whole game although Giggs does add some composure if he plays there
November 7th, 2009 @ 21:59Rooney has to get the lone-striker position for me cos I can’t see him on the left. Berbatov will consequently be dropped. If giggs plays middle then fletcher and anderson will hav to stay in front of the back-line. This one has draw written all over it for me.
November 7th, 2009 @ 22:55I’d go with Anderson, Carrick and Fletcher in midfield. Every time Utd have been poor this season it has been down to losing the midfield battle. Either Giggs or Valentia with those 3 and Rooney/Berba up top.
O’Shea at RB (Neville is suspended). Didn’t I read somewhere that Utd haven’t conceded a goal in the PL from a set-piece this season….so not sure about the corner comment.
I’ll unashamedly cry if I see Scholes in the starting line-up for this one!
November 8th, 2009 @ 04:34Outstanding display by Utd. Fergie finally went with our best midfield selection.
Very unlucky to lose that. Not many teams will go to Chelsea and have the better of the game. Long way to go and despite the loss that gives me great hope for 4 in a row.
November 8th, 2009 @ 19:28manchester united managed gain an edge in midfield but lost out due to having an isolated frontman who cannot play against top opposition as a lone striker, Rooney had a good game today but no support.
There may be complaints about the goal but Chelsea created enough to say they deserved it ad in the end even statistically shaded the posession
November 8th, 2009 @ 22:53Chelsea created enough to deserve it!? what planet are you living on here? Chelsea had just about 1 chance all game, United had the ref out to get them and created much, much more
November 9th, 2009 @ 01:14you boys called it. for sure.
November 9th, 2009 @ 07:31THE BLUES ARE THE BEST FOR NOW. KEEP IT UP. AND TRY TO USE THE NEW PLAYERS FOR QUICK ADAPTATION WITH KALOU
November 15th, 2009 @ 17:36