The Blues are set to face last season’s champions Man Utd who trail 11 points behind the leaders tomorrow at Stamford Bridge. 9 points separate Jose Mourinho’s men with David Moyes’ struggling squad. It’s a crucial fixture for both teams in different ways. Chelsea are battling to keep up pace with Man City and Arsenal at the top while last season’s champions are fighting against a difficult task of finishing in top 4 which is highly unlikely with their poor form this season.
As we look excitingly onto this super Sunday fixture, let’s predict Jose’s best starting 11 to get the 3 points and earn the Special one his 100th Premier league victory against our arch-title nemesis at home soil.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Mourinho will more than likely deploy his favored counter-attacking 4-2-3-1 formation against the red devils at Stamford bridge. With the 4-3-3 being another successful formation so far this season, we can opt for the 4-2-3-1 since Frank Lampard isn’t gonna be risked to start after early return to training from a leg muscle injury. Mourinho had also confirmed that Matic will likely not start his first match against Man Utd. With that being said, let’s scramble the starting 11 with this formation.
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
Who else really? After earning his 209th, record clean sheet in our last fixture against Hull City, there is no contender between the sticks than the ‘great Pete’! We will likely be looking forward to his 210th clean sheet against Man Utd with top forwards, Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie missing through injury.
Defense; back 4: Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Cole
Chelsea’s defense is what has been so impressive this season under Jose Mourinho. The clean sheets had been coming game after game during the important festive fixtures and that has contributed to the Blues fighting for the title with just two points behind the leaders. With Ivanovic out through injury, Azpilicueta is the best option at the right back for this game. Terry and Cahill’s partnership has even seen them take ‘joint man of the match’ against Arsenal at the Emirates in the boxing day fixture. And in the left back spot, we will have non other than, the veteran Ashley Cole. We will have no more words for this incredible back-four that is a match for any attack in the premier league at the moment.
Pivot; Ramires and Mikel
With Lampard just returning into full training this week and Matic fresh of signing for the Blues, Ramires and Mikel are set to start in midfield. Mikel’s pass and composure; Ramires’ energy and speed will surely prove to be a no-match for the Red devils’ struggling midfield. Also Lampard, Matic and David Luiz, who impressed last weekend vs Hull City will be an option for the pivot.
Attacking midfield trio; Hazard, Oscar, Willian
We get to the best and dangerous part of our midfield. Our game changers upfront. Hazard has been on fire in the past 3 fixtures since the new year and will look to continue his super form against Man Utd. Oscar will be influential in the No. 10 spot as he has been trusted by Jose this season many times. Willian will complete the trio of attacking guns behind our striker on the right wing possibly. Jose might give Hazard and Willian an option to switch positions and create free roles for them to exploit opportunities when we are in possession.
Lone striker; Fernando Torres
After scoring 2 times since the turn of the year in 2014, Fernando Torres is destined to lead the charge against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. The Spaniard has no love lost against his arch-rivals since he was at Liverpool. He will more than be fired up to score against Man Utd after what happened in last season’s corresponding fixture at Stamford bridge.
Substitutes bench; Schwarzer, Luiz, Lampard, Juan Mata, Samuel Eto’o
That substitutes bench is the full of stars that could walk easily into any squad of premier league at the moment. Any team. Our opponents will have the likes of Ashley Young, Nani, Cleaverly and Alex Buttner on the bench. And this is the strength of the squad and the main difference from last season.
Hope you enjoyed the article and feel free to let us know your opinions. Follow me on twitter (@FahmiCFC) and KTBFFH!!!
Clattenburg isn’t refereeing this match again is he? He’s steadily built a reputation for being a worse ref than Howard Webb, who is doing his best (or worse) this season not to be outdone by Clattenburg. That match was really the beginning of the end for Di Matteo last season. We just went to shit afterwards.
If wishes were horses, I would bench all our 3 strikers.
………….Cech…………….
Azpi Cahill Terry Cole
………..Mikel Luiz……….
Ramires Willian Hazard
…………..Oscar…………….
Expect Torres best performance in Red devil; at least 2 goal from him. Vidig & Evans fear him! Shurrule speed and goal against Man city wl also be repeated to Untd!
4 sure torres wil start the match.but mata is mostly likely to start instead of oscar…ADRE 4 willian..
Lovely squat………
Up Chelsea 4 Life, Chelsea 3 Man U 2