Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
Manchester United travel to London this weekend to face the European Champions and Premiership leaders in this season’s biggest game so far. The question is – how will we fare?
Analyzing Chelsea, I can see a huge change from the team that won the Champions League through dogged defending and the explosive impact of Didier Drogba.
Roberto Di Matteo’s Chelsea are a team more closely related to Manchester City, in that they now have a midfield that can tear teams apart with their movement and passing.
Far removed from the long ball game of last season, the triumvirate of Oscar, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata echo the skill and movement of David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri that took our title away. Because of that they could put us to the sword like City did if we give them space in front of our back four.
At the back Chelsea have an excellent keeper in Petr Cech, and Gary Cahill is a strong defender, who with David Luiz in Terry’s absence, create a mobile core that will defend well. Chances will be at a premium.
So given these facts how do we solve the puzzle?
Well first of all Chelsea are little threat on the flanks and we need to know that Rafael and Patrice Evra are under less threat than against Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling or even Stoke City. Fernando Torres is a threat only when the ball is over the top and so we will defend deep with cover in front of the back four.
I expect to see David De Gea (crosses are few) with Rafael, Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans and Evra protected by Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick in a solid and static back line of 7 who rarely cross the halfway line in the first hour.
The front 4 will attack with width and pace and I’d go for Antonio Valencia and Nani, who will be withdrawn on the hour for Ashley Young, with Wayne Rooney and Robin van Perie in the centre, Rooney withdrawn slightly.
This creates threat with pace, gets the centre-backs turned to defend when we get to the by-line and plays 4-5-1 when we are under the cosh, which will be quite a lot.
We have to give Hazard no room as he is a constant threat, Oscar will shoot from distance but will be closed down and Mata tends to drop when things aren’t going for him. He might drift left and Valencia can take care of that.
So expect a low possession low scoring game, no 6-1 for Chelsea, as we practice the art of defending. United can’t afford a defeat and this weekend we will play for 0-0 which is what I expect the score to be.
Of course if we concede, Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez and Shinji Kagawa will get an airing as a 7 point deficit at this stage is too much for us to be happy. If United can win then we would be very satisfied with the position at the end of October and that’s what I’m hoping for.
By Steve Burrows CBE @ifollowsteve
