It is not often that you see Manchester United approaching a game as underdogs. But when United take the field tomorrow at Stamford Bridge, that is what they will be- underdogs. Stamford Bridge has been somewhat of an Elba for our Napoleanic ambitions. It has been a full seven years since we came back with three points from the Bridge. Those were the times of a different Chelsea- a Ranieri Chelsea, a cashless Chelsea. Since then it has been all about disappointments and missed chances. And sadly, from my point of view, another disappointment lies in the offing tomorrow.
Now I am not a pessimist. It is very unlike me to predict doom and gloom. But there is something called rationality and it is my rationality that leads me to more gloomy realms. Whichever way I look at it, I can not see United overcoming Chelsea. They have a more robust defence, a more effective midfield and in Didier Drogba, they have a man who can rip apart any defence on his day. On the other hand, United’s back-line has been rocked by injuries and poor form. Our midfield is as unpredictable as they get. In Rooney and Berbatov, we have strikers who have the potential to blitz any defence on their day but have not converted that potential into reality so far. Seen in the light of our poor performances of late at the Bridge, these disparities between the two sides seem magnified and render all forms of hope redundant. The irony however is that it is this lack of hope that gives me hope. The title of an underdog sits well on Manchester United. It is when we are written off that we are at our most dangerous. The fact that we are expected to lose would ensure that a repeat of the insipid display against Liverpool would not be repeated. Whether that would be enough is another story.
Assuming that we do possess the capacity to beat the Blues, what should our tactics be? Should we go all gung-ho in attack and try to catch the Londoners by surprise? Or should we adopt a cautious approach and look to stifle Chelsea by cutting their supply lines in attack? As the old cliche goes, an approach mixing caution with aggression seems the most likely way to come up with all three points. Look to get a goal early and then set the pace for the rest of the game. Once the tactics have been sorted out, the next step would be to pick a suitable XI. It is here that Fergie can either quash or strengthen the hushed whispers that seem to question his tactical panache. Unfortunately, Sir Alex has a gigantic dilemma on his hands. To counter Chelsea’s midfield, it is likely that Fergie would choose to pack his midfield. However, this system requires a striker who can hold a line on his own- something that neither of Rooney and Berbatov can do. Playing five in the midfield would mean that a majority of the game will be played in our half and sooner or later our fragile defence is bound to give in. The other option is to be a bit more positive and play both Rooney and Berba, supported by an energetic midfield of Fletch and Ando with the evergreen Giggs and the fast-improving Valencia on the flanks. This system, however, makes us prone to be over-run by the powerful Chelsea midfield. It is a case of being caught between a rock and a hard place and Sir Alex’ position is something that I don’t envy right now. As a fan I would like to see United come out fighting in an attacking formation but I wouldn’t be surprised if Sir Alex decides to pack the midfield tomorrow.
As for the injury update, United will be without Rio Ferdinand in defence but his usual partner in crime, Nemanja Vidic is expected to be fit. Also expected to feature are Giggsy and Berbatov who have both recovered from their respective injuries. Gary Neville is suspended and Park, Welbeck and Hargo are also unavailable. For the Blues, Bosingwa is the only expected absentee, having been ruled out with a knee problem.
With the media in the process of sharpening their knives expecting to feast on United’s carcass tomorrow, the stakes are pretty high indeed. Since it is still relatively early in the season, to say that this tie would determine the outcome of the title race would be a gross exaggeration. However, with the title race to be fought between United and Chelsea in all likelihood (something that Berbatov is pretty sure of), the winner of this tie would take a lot of confidence into the remaining matches of the season. If form and punditry are anything to go by, a United defeat looks imminent. However, the beauty of football is in its unpredictability. Writing United off is a perilous act, especially with someone of the guile of Sir Alex guiding them. Expect United to come out fighting but if you are a fan, do not expect us to leave the Bridge with a win. Expect to face the worst and you might end up getting much better.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 United
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