Preview: Manchester United v Chelsea

The Rooney question aside, Moyes has injury problems throughout the squad, with Rafael da Silva unavailable, while Ashley Young, Nani and Javier Hernández are not yet ready for selection. The Brazilian defender will spend a month on the sidelines, while others, says Moyes, are still playing catch up from a disruption by injury or international football.

The Scot will choose between Ryan Giggs, Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa for a place on the left wing, with Rooney likely to start from the bench. Antonio Valencia should start on the right flank in what could be an unchanged side.

Off the pitch comparisons between the two new managers are inevitable. In 11 seasons with Everton, Moyes failed to secure any silverware, while Mournho has garnered seven league titles and two Champions League trophies in a similar period.

Reserved, conservative and uncontroversial, Moyes was always considered the more appropriate choice by United’s directors. While Mourinho’s penchant for picking a fight, with ensuing potential for collateral damage, was never a friend of the Glazer family’s clean-cut image.

Still, the two men have little history of controversy, although Mourinho has secured five victories from six meetings between Chelsea and Everton during the Portguese’s first spell in west London.

“I really like José, he’s had great success and I’ve not seen him for a long time so I’m looking forward to seeing him,” said Moyes.

“I came (to United) for this sort of level of game, but I came to win trophies. If you are going to win trophies then you are going to have to beat teams like Chelsea and Manchester City because that’s the way our league is. I’m looking forward to it. It’s one of 38 league games we’ve got this season and it’s a great first home game.”

Will Wayne Rooney feature?

Moyes is under pressure though, especially given United’s failure to augment the Scot’s resources during the transfer window. Despite Moyes’s decision to replace most of the coaching staff at Old Trafford, the team remains Ferguson’s; a shadow lengthened not only by the length of tenure but trophy count. And even in this Mourinho’s capacity to create doubt figures prominently.

“The history of Sir Alex is there forever. Is that a problem for David? I don’t think so because I don’t think David wants to be compared with Sir Alex,” said the former Real Madrid coach.

“David is an experienced manager and this is the best moment of his career. He has maturity, experience, a big club, very good players so he is in a fantastic position and I think he is going to do very well.

“I hope he doesn’t win everything and leaves something for the others. He knows to be successful he has to win trophies, but he has the potential to do that.”

That goal will certainly be easier should United beat Chelsea on Monday, with a reverse leaving the west Londoners six points clear so early in the campaign. And wouldn’t it fit the narrative so sweetly should Rooney score the winning goal?

Manchester United v Chelsea, Premier League, Old Trafford, 8 pm BST, 26 August 2013

Teams

United (4-4-1-1): De Gea; Jones, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Carrick, Cleverley; Valencia, Welbeck, Giggs; van Persie. Subs from: Lindegaard, Buttner, F da Silva, Smalling, Anderson, Zaha, Rooney

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Lampard; Oscar, Mata, Hazard; Ba. Subs from: Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Mikel, De Bruyne, Van Ginkel, Schurrle, Lukaku

Head-to-Head

United 72 – Draw 49 – Chelsea 47

Officials

Referee: Martin AtkinsonAssistants: P Kirkup, S LongFourth Official: M Dean

Prediction

1-1