FA Cup Preview: Chelsea v Manchester United

Ramires of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Oscar (l) during the FA Cup Sixth Round match against Manchester United at Old Trafford on March 10, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Getty Images)

Just 48 hours on from a laboured victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side hits the road once again. The Scot flew his Manchester United team home from the north east on Saturday, seeking every possible advantage ahead of United’s FA Cup quarterfinal replay with Chelsea on Easter Monday. It’s another road trip for United’s weary players, but one with a significant carrot for victory: a semi against rivals Manchester City at Wembley.

United took another huge step towards reclaiming the Premier League title on Saturday by securing full points against relegation threatened Sunderland. Ferguson can hardly have been impressed with his side’s efforts though – the third match in succession that the Reds did just enough, but little more.

That run includes the opening cup match between these sides – a 2-2 draw in which Ferguson’s side was left hanging on for a draw just days after defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League. Indeed, United’s fortune at Old Trafford came amid a strong Chelsea showing in the second half, while Ferguson’s players appeared spent by the tie’s end.

“I thought we were lucky to be honest with you,” said Sir Alex of the first quarter-final between the sides.

“I thought that tiredness had got into the team and, from a comfortable position for the first 20 minutes, you could see the signs when we started to give the ball away just before half-time. That is a definite sign of tiredness.”

“The tiredness came, possibly, from the emotional intensity of the Real Madrid game and also the way we lost it. In the second half in particular there was no doubt that Tom Cleverley’s and our two full-backs’ legs had gone. That made it a long game against Chelsea and they had the advantage of extra players in midfield.”

Two days after each side played in the Premier League, the respective stamina of these squads will once again be tested, with Ferguson likely to make wholesale changes at Stamford Bridge. He has little choice.

Ferguson is likely to make at least eight changes, with Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nani, Javier Hernández and Tom Cleverley coming back into the side against Rafa Benitez’ outfit. Defenders Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand should return after being rested against Sunderland.

Meanwhile, the Spaniard will make changes to the side that lost at Southampton having rotated his squad heavily at St. Mary’s. Indeed, accusations that Benitez put his own vanity – a potential Cup win – over the club’s need for Champions League football next season weigh heavily on the temporary manager. After all, Benitez has no chance of taking the role full time.

Juan Mata will return after recovering from illness, although Gary Cahill is rated doubtful.

Still, the home side has looked fresher in recent weeks, with third place seemingly secure and the Europa League offering none of its bigger brother’s intensity. Defeat to Southampton may change that picture, although in the short term, United must also overcome both fatigue and injuries.

“We picked up two or three injuries, which doesn’t help,” said Ferguson after the Reds’ weekend victory.

“It was all down to the courage of the players that they got through it. Rafael got injured and Jonny Evans got a bit of a knock but carried on. That was great because we couldn’t afford to take him off. He said he’d last as long as he could but he got through it.

“I thought we’d lost David De Gea for a moment. He was out for a few minutes but recovered and played a really great part for us. Generally, we have a few bumps and bruises but we handled it well.”

With a double to chase, this is no time for United’s season to wind down of course, although Ferguson’s hope of securing a record Premier League points total looks unrealistic on recent form. Still, with the Scot’s squad broad, if not truly deep, the Scot will exploit the full resources on offer.

And should United win, the side will face City twice in a week. First, at Old Trafford in the Premier League next Monday, and then a Cup semi at Wembley on 14 April. Two games that will go a long way to deciding the Reds’ fate this season.

“We want to win the Double and we took a big step in the league,” van Persie told MUTV on Saturday.

“But we want to go for both. Now we have to look ahead to the FA Cup tie against Chelsea. It’s going to be a big test but I’m quite confident we can play well at Stamford Bridge and get a good result.”

“It’s been nine years since United have won the FA Cup. It’s important to us. We have a big chance of reaching the semi-final against City. I don’t want to look too far ahead but we have a massive chance of winning the competition.”

With the Cup will surely come a first double since 1999, the moment of Ferguson’s greatest hour. There are three tough matches in the competition before that, although with the Reds 15 points clear in the Premier League, Ferguson can afford to refocus.

First, however, United must achieve a rare first: victory at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup.

Match detailsChelsea v Manchester United – FA Cup, Stamford Bridge – 1 April 2013 March 2013, 12.30pm

Possible teamsChelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Cole; Mikel, Ramires; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres. Subs from: Turnbull, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Benayoun, Marin, Moses, Ba.

United (4-3-3): de Gea; Smalling, Vidi?, Ferdinand, Evra; Cleverley, Carrick, Giggs; Nani, Hernández, Rooney. Subs from: Lindegaard, Büttner, Evans, Powell, Young, Scholes, Valencia, Anderson, Kagawa, Welbeck, van Persie.

Match officialsReferee: Philip Dowd.Assistant Referees: Peter Kirkup and Andy Garratt.Fourth Official: Neil Swarbrick.

FormChelsea: WLDWWLUnited: WWLDWW

Head to HeadLast 10: Chelsea 2, United 6, Draw 2Overall: Chelsea 45, United 72, Draw 49

PredictionChelsea 1-2 Manchester United.