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Brace yourself as the majestic Old Trafford plays host to the biggest night yet in European football this season. English champions Chelsea will look to overcome a 0-1 deficit against Manchester United in what is easily the tie of quarter final stages of the 56th edition of Europe’s premier club competition. At stake is a place in the semi-finals but more importantly a step closer to playing a dream final at Wembley and possibly lifting the haloed Champions League trophy.
A defeat for the Blues would most certainly mean a season without silverware and would be reason enough for Chelsea’s unscrupulous Russian owner to sack manager, Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian has enjoyed success over his Scottish compatriot in this competition before with AC Milan but that is just going to be another added incentive for Sir Alex as he looks to continue on his relentless pursuit for success and that third European crown that he so narrowly missed in 2009.
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Team news:
Chelsea:
For the first time this season, Carlo Ancelotti will have his full squad at his disposal with Jose Bosingwa having recovered from the illness that forced him out of the weekend fixture against Wigan. Yossi Benayoun made a successful return against Wigan and could be used as a super-sub if required. David Luiz remains cup-tied but the fit-again Alex gives his manager more choices to decide who should partner Terry at the heart of Chelsea’s defence.
Manchester United:
Manchester United too are free from major injury worries as Rafael has recovered from the knock he took last week and Rio Ferdinand having being rested over the weekend is ready to partner skipper Nemanja Vidic. Darren Fletcher remains the notable absentee for the Reds though Sir Alex will have O’Shea and Brown available in defence with Park Ji Sung and Anderson providing options in the midfield.
Strategy and personnel:
Chelsea:
Will the tried and tested trio of Drogba, Malouda and Anelka deliver for Chelsea?
Carlo Ancelotti has toyed enough with his strikers which culminated in his inexplicable substitution last week when he took off the menacing Didier Drogba instead of the out-of-sorts but £50m worth Fernando Torres to bring on Nicolas Anelka. Whether it be a gross misjudgment on his part or a case of him having to dance to the whims and fancies of his boss and his obsession with the Champions League, he simply has to deliver or his fast diminishing popularity among the Stamford Bridge faithful would soon reach the dressing room and before he realizes he would be on the next flight to Italy. He would be well advised to go for the tried and tested trio of Malouda-Drogba-Anelka rather than go for the Spanish striker because at this moment Fernando Torres looks nothing more than gamble, not even a calculated risk even after taking into consideration the successes he has had in his duels with the United skipper.
Ancelotti: Needs to get the key decisions right
There is an inherent problem with the Chelsea system which they must employ in order to accommodate their star studded midfield of Lampard, Essien and Ramires. The sheer lack of a right sided player often leaves their full back unprotected. No doubt they had some joy in the attacking third as Bosingwa combined with either Ramires or one of the front three to have a go at Evra but they could just stand and stare as a certain 37 year old took advantage of a brilliant pass from Michael Carrick and exploited their lack of cover on that flank.
Manchester United:
Will Sir Alex tread on the side of caution or unleash his artillery on Chelsea?
The first question Sir Alex needs to address is whether United want to sit on their away goal lead or go on the offensive. They are adept in both but given their home form this season, Sir Alex would back his boys to score on the break as Chelsea would have no option but to attack United at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex went for the more industrious Ji Sung Park on the left in the first leg as he felt Patrice Evra needed cover but that could mean relegating Nani, player of the season so far, on the bench. The right back is another concern as although Rafael is fit, his temperament could be called into question. It was only last year at this very same stage of the competition when United appeared to be cruising to the semi finals with a 3-0 lead against Bayern Munich at half time did Rafael’s sending-off turn the match completely on its head. A potential replacement for the Brazilian, John O’shea would also give United height especially in defending set pieces against the likes of Drogba, Terry, Essien and Ivanovic.
May be this is Rooney's season, after all!
At the end of the day, whatever strategy Sir Alex decides to employ, Chelsea’s main threat would come from the man whose goal tilted the tie in United’s favour. Having got a much needed rest over the weekend courtesy his ban for abusing on camera at West Ham, Wayne Rooney will be fired up for this one, looking to hammer in the last nail in Chelsea’s coffin.
Last words:
The core of this Chelsea team had to endure a semi final loss against Liverpool which was settled by a goal which probably wasn’t one, then had to suffer the heartbreak of losing a Champions League final via a sudden-death against this opposition in 2008 and left aggrieved last week when they were denied a clear cut penalty when Ramires was brought down by Patrice Evra in the dying minutes of their first leg encounter. No doubt the likes of Terry, Drogba, Lampard and Essien would be playing for their lives, but they are up against an United side who have a lot to prove themselves. There have been polls going on if this would be the worst United team ever to win the league or remarks in the papers like United are winning the premier league ‘by default’. How the Reds would love to remind the sporting world that they are one of the most feared teams across Europe and what better way to do it than beat the domestic champions and take a step closer to emulating the treble winning side of 1999.
Last but not the least, it is well worth reminding what Sir Alex’s first reactions were upon winning the first leg,
“Our biggest advantage is Old Trafford. Our support next Tuesday will be absolutely fantastic, I’m banking on that.”
Manchester United may be familiar opponents for the Blues but they haven’t a clue what an European night is like at the Theatre of Dreams. In the end, if it gets to crunch, United’s twelfth man could well be the difference.
Catch the biggest game on English soil so far from 19:30 BST or 00:15 IST
