The most exciting fixture in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup is also the last fixture in this round as Antonio Conte’s Chelsea host Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United for a place in the semi-finals. Mourinho‘s men were badly beaten in their visit to Stamford Bridge in October as the home side ran 4-0 winners.
However, the Red Devils have been unbeaten in 17 league games since then and have already won the EFL Cup against Southampton last month. They are also in the round of 16 in the Europa League and are favourites to win the tournament.
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Conte’s side, on the other hand, continued their domination of the league and are currently on course to win the league as they have a 10-point gap from chasers Tottenham and Manchester City. The Blues are looking to complete the domestic double of the Premier League and FA Cup in Conte’s first season in charge of the London club.
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Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham have already booked a semifinal berth and this tie will decide the final semi-final spot. Both the managers are expected to field strong line-ups but Manchester United are currently striker-less for the crunch match with Zlatan Ibrahimovic serving suspension, Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial injured and Marcus Rashford falling ill.
However, Manchester United’s squad depth is one of the best in the Premier League and with Jose Mourinho conjuring many knockout wins in his glittered career, his side will be up for it.
So, let’s take a look at the 5 key battles that will decide the outcome of the match.
#1 N’Golo Kante vs Paul Pogba
On one side is the player who is playing a starring role in a title-winning team for the 2nd consecutive season and on the other side is the most expensive player till date. On one side is the league’s best destroyer who has improved to start contributing to his team’s attack after winning the ball, as was seen against West Ham last week, while the other has done well in his role but his performances will always be compared with his price tag.
The battle between Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba will very well decide the midfield battle, if not the match.
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Kante’s transfer from champions Leicester to Chelsea was relatively a low-key affair and under the tutelage of Conte, his forward contributions are improving as he leads the Blues to the league title. On the other hand, Pogba’s transfer from Conte’s former club Juventus to Pogba’s former club Manchester United was talked all over the footballing world. He has been doing well in the midfield role without being spectacular, thereby questions being raised of his actual worth.
Both of them will have a key role in their respective sides for the match as Pogba will be tasked to create from midfield while Kante’s exact job would be to prevent his fellow France team-mate from doing so.
#2 David de Gea vs Chelsea attack
Chelsea have been almost unstoppable at home this season, including winning their last 12 home games. The form of their front three of Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Pedro has been sublime and yet if there is one player who can keep Manchester United in the game, it is their Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea.
The 26-year old is arguably the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and one of the finest in world football with his reflexes, command of the box and distribution as good as any. After an acclimatisation period since his transfer from Atletico Madrid, de Gea has saved several points for Manchester United over the years with unbelievable saves.
As a result, Diego Costa (18 goals in all competitions this season) and co. should be razor sharp if they have to breach United’s goal in the match.
#3 Eden Hazard vs Antonio Valencia
Antonio Valencia has established himself as Jose Mourinho’s first-choice right-back and his marauding runs up and down the pitch are a constant sight in Manchester United's games. A very reliable winger-turned-defender, Valencia’s runs will test Chelsea for Eden Hazard, who will be up against him, is not known for his defensive work-rate.
As a result, Chelsea’s left wing-back Marcos Alonso could be put under pressure if Henrikh Mkhitaryan plays on the same wing as well.
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On the other side, Valencia will have one of his sterner tests as an in-form Eden Hazard will exploit every space left behind by the Ecuadorian and given the Belgian’s pace, dribbling and goalscoring ability, Valencia will have his task cut out.
Hazard’s recent goal against West Ham and the amazing solo goal against Arsenal in February show the damage he can do and this battle between Valencia and Hazard will be an engaging tussle throughout the match.
#4 Marouane Fellaini vs Chelsea’s shorter defence
Barring Nemanja Matic, Marcos Alonso, Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Diego Costa, the rest of the Chelsea team including right-sided centre-back Cesar Azpilicueta, right wing-back Victor Moses, right-sided attacker Pedro, N’Golo Kante and Hazard are all 5’10” and below.
Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini stands at 6’4” and their defenders along with Paul Pogba are of decent height as well, which could trouble Conte’s side from set-pieces as well.
Fellaini is the perfect player in such a scenario as his height, strength and the ability to make himself a nuisance against the shorter players in Chelsea defence can come in extremely handy in a match where the defending champions do not have any recognised striker to start with.
The Belgian can start in midfield and help Manchester United play directly to him with players such as Juan Mata, Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard getting into positions to receive the knockdowns.
The way in which Chelsea handle Fellaini will be another key battle in this tie.
#5 Pedro vs Luke Shaw/Marcus Rojo
Either Luke Shaw or Marcus Rojo will be starting in the left-back position and they will be up against Pedro, a former Barcelona attacker who currently has scored in every round of the FA Cup so far.
Pedro has four goals and two assists so far in the Cup and is the in-form attacker for the match.
Rojo has been in fine form in recent weeks, and if he starts, he will be expected to keep the Spanish attacker at bay. However, the dynamism and fluidity of the Chelsea attack coupled with the form and ability of Pedro offers an equal or better matchup on that wing and it could prove pivotal in a tight affair.
