Manchester United v Chelsea: The pressure is on - Can Chelsea deliver?

Chelsea take on Manchester United today at Old Trafford and with both Arsenal and Tottenham winning yesterday, the pressure is on Chelsea. Can they deliver another all important three points?

With Tottenham coming up on Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge, it’s so important that we get our team selection right today. Rafa has successfully managed to rotate his players so far and has taken us on a run that before kick off yesterday, put us in third place and most importantly of all, three points ahead of Tottenham in fifth.

As Sir Alex Ferguson has been quoted as saying, they “couldn’t care less” about what this game means to Chelsea and will field their strongest possible starting eleven. Chelsea without question are up against it!

However, we have to take heart from our last three halves of football against United – the second half at Old Trafford in the FA Cup and the full 90 minute replay at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea dominated and imposed our football on the champions and they couldn’t live with our movement, especially up at Old Trafford.

We need a repeat performance to have any chance of a win today and we cannot afford to start the game slowly. I expect Rafa Benitez to name his strongest eleven this afternoon. I say his strongest eleven because, as we know, that appears to be without Frank Lampard starting. I would have Terry and Lampard starting all day today but it looks as though only Terry will get the nod.

In order for Chelsea to win today, we need Juan Mata on the ball as much as possible, and in between the lines of their defence and midfield. We saw the problems both Mata and Hazard caused United, especially in that second half at Old Trafford. If we can give them the ball today in the same positions, we can expose the huge gap between their lines and capitalise.

At the other end, I fully expect David Luiz to drop back into defence this afternoon, possibly next to John Terry. Both need to remain solid and it’s important that if he starts, John Terry organises our defensive shape.

Chelsea have the players, we have the quality and we simply HAVE TO deliver!.

Can Chelsea grab an all important three points from the Champions?

Come on Chelsea!!

Carefree & KTBFFH!