Champions League Preview: Manchester United vs Chelsea
The upcoming match between Chelsea and Manchester United in the Champions League final, containing team speculation, player quotes and tactics discussion.
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After the closest Premier League climax in recent times, Manchester United and Chelsea are set to go head to head again in the first ever, all English Champions League final. The match promises to be every bit as close as Manchester United’s narrow two point victory in the title last week, and while that match could provide a slight psychological edge to the Old Trafford faithful, Chelsea will be looking for something to show for their sixty game season.
Chelsea medical staff will be busy working on getting John Terry and Didier Drogba ready for the showdown, after they both picked up injures in the disappointing 1-1 draw with Bolton on the final day of the season. While others may be worrying about Terry’s fitness, he is confident of leading out his side on Wednesday night.
“My elbow is all right,” said Terry. “There is just a bit of strapping in case I fall and jar it. The last couple of days it has been getting better and hopefully I am going to train without the strapping.”
Drogba also played down fears he or Terry will miss the crunch match
“I have spoken to him [Terry] – he will play in Moscow. No-one wants to miss this gigantic match, the match of our careers. That’s the case for me anyway,” Drogba told L’Equipe, “I took a blow to my knee that was operated on back in December, and it hurt at the time. I put ice on it immediately. But there is nothing serious. I will be at training this week.”
In contrary, with no injury concerns in the north side of England, Sir Alex Ferguson’s biggest obstacle is which eleven to field and the seven accompanying substitutes. When asked about the selection headache Ferguson was apologetic over the size and talent of his squad.
“I think picking the team will be easier than picking the substitutes. I’m going to have to leave some fantastic players out of the squad completely next week, which I won’t enjoy doing. It’s got to be done and I don’t know when I’m going to pick that moment. I’m going to have to speak to them. It’s not something I’m looking forward to. But, on the other hand, it’s a fantastic position for us to be in, having 26 fit players.”
With the whole of Europe focused on English football for the night, the pressure is set to fall on Manchester United’s prize asset, Christiano Ronaldo. After more speculation of a record braking summer move to Real Madrid, critics of Ronaldo are expecting a big performance in the final, after claims that he fails to make an impressions on the big stage. The PFA, and Football Writers Player of the Year for the second year running, has added to rumours of a move to Spain in the summer, after neither confirming or denying the speculation
“I have said 1,000 times, I am very happy here. I want to stay in Manchester. This is my role but the future – nobody knows. Only God knows. I have said 10,000 times I have a dream to play in Spain, but sometimes dreams do not come true. I still dream, I still dream. I am happy at Manchester United, but the future? You never know.”
With 41 goals to his name this term, Ronaldo will be hopeful of adding to his record braking tally and securing a third European success for Manchester United.
Both sides are likely to play 4-5-1 formations from the start, changing to 4-3-3 when attacking. The game is likely to be won in the midfield area where Chelsea could have a team selection headache of their own, with Lampard, Ballack, Essien, Joe Cole, Obi Mikel, and Malouda, among others looking to be part of the five man midfield. Manchester United could stay with the squad and tactics that got them to Moscow, by playing Rooney as part of a five man midfield, opting to play Ronaldo through the middle up front.
No matter how the teams line up nerves will be high on Wednesday night. Chelsea will be playing in their first Champions League final, pressure is mounting on Avram Grant to bring the trophy back to Stamford Bridge to secure his job for next term. With only two European cups in their history, it’s well documented that Sir Alex feels Manchester United are capable of winning more European titles, and will be hoping to put things right in Russia.
The match could prove to be a disappointing affair for the neutrals early on, with both sides certain to start cautiously. However overall promises to be of the highest caliber and the perfect way to show piece what is surely the greatest league in the world at this moment in time.
