Chelsea vs Manchester United: A preview

Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder Ramires (3R) celebrates after scoring during the English FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford, on March 10, 2013. The match ended 2-2. (Getty Images)

Much has been written about this game – more about the timing of the game rather than the occasion itself. Unfortunately, the fixture pile up has meant that this was the only day that the game could be accommodated. Today, the talk stops and the game finally begins.

A cup game always brings with it a degree of romance. There are no ifs and buts. Two go in, one comes out. Simple as that. Away goals counts for naught and what matters is only what happens on the day.

Chelsea and Manchester United had mixed fortunes over the weekend. While United got a battling three points at Sunderland, thereby managing to keep their 15-point lead atop the Premier League, Chelsea slipped up against Southampton, and now find themselves only 2 points ahead of 5th placed Arsenal, although they do have a game in hand over Tottenham, who leapfrogged them into third.

The result did nothing to lighten the load on interim boss Rafa Benitez’s shoulders, and with the season looking bleaker still, more hopes will be pinned on an FA Cup triumph. Benitez did make 7 changes to his starting line-up against Southampton, and is expected to ring the changes again for the game against United. He has, in fact, defended his selection policy saying, “You have to make decisions and use the squad. Southampton is a good team on one level and Manchester United is another team on another level. In the league, you have more games to play and will be going to the end. In the FA Cup you have one game and you will be out. You have to find the balance for players who are playing more games or less games.”

Sir Alex Ferguson, on the other hand, seems to have most things going in his favor. Even with Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand rested for the weekend game, he was still able to come away with three points. The game against Sunderland, however, was not without its casualties, most notably the almost definite absence of Rafael, who picked up a groin injury.

Ferguson is expected to ring the changes once again with the aforementioned four all set to start the game tonight. In addition, he does not have the game in mid-week to think about unlike his counterpart, who has Rubin Kazan to worry about.

All that being said, however cliched it may be, form does go out the window in a cup game, especially when the stakes are this high. If one keeps the overall picture in mind, one cannot look past United to go through, but Stamford Bridge cannot be ruled out as a factor that will play decisively in Chelsea’s favor. Not for nothing, are they the preeminent team of the FA Cup in the recent past.

Expect a cracker.