Chelsea are sitting pretty at the top of the premier league with a clear 10 point advantage but the long weekend’s Monday tie with Manchester United is the first stern test they have had since playing Spurs in their last defeat.
To be honest, Chelsea have been in cruise control. There has not been much talk of them, about them or even to them. They have gone from week to week picking up simple victories be it by the skin of their teeth or drubbing teams at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United will remember very well what a drubbing at Stamford Bridge looks like after their 4-0 bashing back in September. But this is a new Manchester United from back then. The team has a different feel and look to it. The players have gelled a lot better now and are showing more promise than they have all season.
They are currently on a 26 match unbeaten run which hasn’t brought much fruition in the Premiership as they were reminded by Chelsea’s mention in the pre-match build up: “Manchester United have moved from sixth to sixth”.
However, a unbeaten run is a boost of confidence for a side which is still in transition. United will turn up at Stamford Bridge with a renewed state of belief after picking up the League Cup only a matter of weeks ago. They are a much more resilient, organised force which will surely test Chelsea for the first time this season.
As for Chelsea, they are in a privileged position. They are currently sat on top of the league and only have the FA Cup as their other competition to play for. They have had the luxury of breaks and long weeks in comparison to the travels of United around the world fighting on all 4 fronts.
It’s for that very reason, Chelsea must show up and perform. Antonio Conte has had a relatively pressure free season but Jose Mourinho will be keen to change that on Monday. Jose has his own fight to mount after being embarrassed on his last return to Stamford Bridge.
Make no mistake, Jose won’t be looking for a 4-0. He will happily take a 1-0, so long as it meant he could put a significant dent in the steam train that is Chelsea at the moment.
Knocking Chelsea out of the FA Cup would be a significant mental win in Mourinho’s mind and would be a huge push for the run-in at the end of the season. For Chelsea, a win would guarantee their current status as the team to beat in England at this moment in time. Furthermore, it would increase their chances of a debut season double for Antonio Conte. A defeat may cause the unprecedented fall from grace the rest of premier league is wishing for.
Whatever it may bring, it could be the first match of the season where we finally see some cracks in the London club. Nubaid Haroon – Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCtMg-fWm7awR41vM1GhVOkA Twitter: twitter.com/rambofyi
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