vs Competition: English Premier League Venue: Stamford Bridge Time: 12:30 (BST), 07:30 (EST) Channels: Sky Sports Premier League(UK), Sky Sports Main Event(UK), MUTV(UK), NBCSN(US), NBC Universo(US), NBC Sports Live(US), TSN 3(Canada), TSN 4(Canada), TSN 5(Canada), Flow Sports Premier(JA), SuperSport 3 Africa(Zambia) Chelsea injuries: Rüdiger (groin), Ampadu (knee) Manchester United injuries: Shaw (knock), Rojo (knee), Matić (back), Lingard (groin), Herrera (knock), McTominay (knee) Chelsea last 6: W-D-W-D-W-W Manchester United last 6: W-D-D-L-D-W Chelsea last result: 3-0 away win over Southampton Manchester United last result: 3-2 rescue job against Newcastle Chelsea league standing: 2nd Manchester United league standing: 8th Last League Encounter: 2-1 home win at Old Trafford (Feb 2018) Chelsea last starting XI (3-4-3): Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta(c), Rüdiger, Luiz, Alonso, Kanté, Jorginho, Barkley, Willian, Giroud, Hazard Manchester United last starting XI (4-2-3-1): de Gea, Young(c), Bailly, Smalling, Shaw, McTominay, Matić, Pogba, Rashford, Martial, Lukaku ===================== back to business. due to midfield absences this might force Pereira or Fred. probably the only way we ever see them again outside of red cards. front 3 is likely unchanged although Mata and Sánchez might be restored and the young wide boys benched wouldn't be a surprise. McTominay in defence again if fit? who knows. Scotland don't even want him but we might just start him at CB again to facilitate José's petty games. not hopeful here but given we are away we will probably play some lame ass defensive style and freely cede possession and nick something. ye's we're pretty bad but chelsea isn't anything special outside of Hazard but whatever
Hazard has wildly out performed his XG this season. He's due to come down to earth and he's been key in their wins thus far. I think this season has largely flattered Chelsea and Arsenal thus far, but not by too much. I also think that they both have another gear to go up, but Arsenal could be in trouble if they don't start creating better chances, because their defending is about to be exposed.
Wouldn't be surprised if we get some type of result here. Mourinho will not want to be embarrassed, so we can fully expect to park the bus for most of the game. Good news is that Herrera, Lingard and even Rojo I believe have all returned to training, so they could figure in some capacity. This is a game I actually would not mind seeing us go with an actual 3-5-2. Bad news for this game is Mike Dean will officiate this one so....
We tend to raise our game against top opponents. But do we in fact have enough quality to match Chelsea? Our back line is our main weakness but if Lukaku shows up and begins to finish on glorious chances we may nick a draw.
For the love of God, no more three man back lines. That option left when we sold Blind. He's the only CB in recent years good enough to warrant playing a three because he's actually a mid with excellent passing. Hopefully we give Dalot a chance at right back because Young and Valencia have been shocking defensively they're last couple outings and that's where they are supposed to be better than him. He's much better going forward than either. I want to see AP, Pogba, and Herrera or Fred in midfield and our youngest frontline. I want Sanchez hungry or gone.
The other option in a back 3 is Rojo, but I have no idea if he's ready to play this weekend. But we've got a huge problem in the form of Hazard to contend with and I don't see anyone on our back who could possibly cope with him. Maybe we use Herrera to man mark him again but who knows what his status is either.
We'll have to see what Mourinho has to say about our current bill of health, but the team I hope to see is something as followed: Dave Bailly Smalling Lindelof Dalot Herrera AP Pogba Shaw Lukaku Martial Definitely want us to go 3 at the back for this game for a couple of reasons. We'll need the defensive solidity against a Chelsea team that is expected to come hard after us. Also, while Matic may not be available, playing with the back 3 proposed above means that Mourinho will not have to play McTominay or Fellaini to start (this is not the game for either one). The midfield is one of Chelsea's strengths and we need to counter that with a mobile and creative trio of our own (Fred can be an alternative if required). Herrera, if ready, is in to look after Hazard, as he's done successfuly in the past. Upfront, I expect Sanchez to play, but I would go with Martial supporting Lukaku. This is a team and setup where we'd actually have a real chance to snatch a win. Playing with a standard back 4 will probably seem the team and backline overwhelmed. This way we give ourselves a shot at some type of real defensive solidity, with the means to actually take the game to them offensively at the same time and put their defense to the test.
If Pogba plays against the Chelsea they way he played against Germany . Then United won't have a hope . See the video below . I don't understand how people still believe that this guy will win a Ballon Dor . Yes Pogba has some wonderful touches and plays some pretty passes and can beat a player or two . But his positional sense and his football brain is average. It is those two attributes that separate the great from the good . Without them you can't control a game like Modric and Scholes used to do . https://tinyurl.com/ycquljql
Mourinho was pretty vague when speaking about our current injury list. Herrera apparently is ready and good to go. No other updates were given.
Expanding on this post, Shaw, Matic and Fellaini are all doubts for tomorrow. Herrera has been back training for a couple of days, but is ready to play to help. Let's hope that Mourinho will not think about going with McTominay ahead of Fred and AP. Even more so than Fellaini, he's just the last thing we need vs Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic or even Barkley. There's really an opportunity for Mourinho to match fire with fire as stated in my team selection and actually put out a team designed to try and take the initiative and the game to Chelsea, as opposed to go for containment.
🥁 Here it is - today's #MUFC team news! 🥁#CHEMUN pic.twitter.com/RUILdV8cvY— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 20, 2018
Between the insistence that Matic plays and his loyalty to Young who is shit and not good enough to play, let alone captain would be enough by itself to seal Mourihno's fate for me.
And the oil tanker brings him down when all he had to do was show him further inside and recover to replace the CB who would have stepped up.