CL Preview: Chelsea v. Manchester United

By: Jack | April 5th, 2011

The two finest clubs in English football over the past six seasons renew their Champions League vows. This, my friends, should be unforgettable.

ivanovic-nani
Headstrong

Devin was to compile this preview, but, alas, he went and got himself engaged last night to the love of his life. Such a selfish move left me – a man currently occupied at his full-time employer – with the task of putting this bad boy together. Thanks a lot, man.

Take none of that seriously. Well, except the engagement part. We’re incredibly pleased for D, so when you see him around these parts, wish him all the best. Nevertheless, we still need some insight into this clash of titans and I’m here to provide it.

This will likely be abbreviated. Hopefully you can forgive me.

Who: Manchester United
What: Champions League quarterfinal, first leg
When: 6 April, 7:45 p.m. local time (2:45 EST)
Where: Stamford Bridge (42,050)
How: Fox Soccer Channel (DirecTV 619, Dish 149)

Why: Last season’s Premier League crown, as part of an unprecedented Double, is now a distant memory. Stoke City made certain of that. Our failure domestically leaves this hallowed competition as our final hope this season. I keep envisioning the infamous Star Wars opening text crawl when I read the previous sentence. EPIC. Anyway.

Of course it would come down to the Champions League. Roman’s Holy Grail. The source of such grief for Chelsea supporters in recent times.

It really is the final piece of the jigsaw. Carlo has been focused on Europe for some time. Now he must deliver or face the possibility of an unwarranted, and unwanted, exit.

Why? Because this season’s success appears, for Roman and, more importantly, Ancelotti, to rest on Champions League triumph. Talk about pressure.

Tonight’s match represents Carlo’s 100th at Chelsea. He’s relishing the opportunity for another century. If the pressure is beginning to wear on him, it isn’t showing. As for this opening leg, the two-time winner of this competition is excited – just not as much as he once was.

“I prefer it when I was a player,” Ancelotti said in the pre-match presser. “I say to my players there will be pressure but the most important thing is we have to be happy,” he said. “Every player wants to play this kind of game. Obviously there is pressure because we want to win. But my emotion is this – happy to be involved in this game.”

Will he still be happy come tomorrow night, though?

That’s basically all I have time for, guys. Apologies.

I do think that though Drogba was in fine form against Stoke, it would serve us well to have him come off the bench against a fatigued Smalling and Vidic. Furthermore, Fletcher’s absence could be vital in terms of Carlo’s blueprint. Our midfield has been underwhelming, at best, over the past few weeks. Mikel’s inclusion would make sense, at least if you look at how the game will likely play out. I sense a cagey, tense affair reminiscent of our CL forays with Liverpool – 2009 not withstanding.

KTBFFH

Preferred XI
Cech
Bos-Bane-EBJT-Cole
Ramires-Mikel-Lampard-Yuri
Anelka-Torres

Projected XI
Cech
Bos-Bane-EBJT-Cole
Ramires-Essien-Lampard-Yuri
Drogba-Torres

Video bonus: This should get the blood flowing, even if it wasn’t created solely for this tie.

Some Related Chelsea Posts:

Category: Champions League, Chelsea Team News, Fixtures, Match Previews, Player News

« Video: Drogba the ‘monster’ debates with supporter | Home | Rant Box: Chelsea v. Manchester United »

Dr. Dro 11

I couldn't agree with Jack more, Anelka has to get the nod since his scoring record in this competition is imperious. That leaves Drogba or Torres to partner him up top because let's be honest, "the one who cannot be seen" (Kalou), does not have the pedigree to start in this kind of match. I think it would be Torres due to his tormenting of Nemanja Vidic. Drogba would be disappointed however not to start, especially after his powerful performance against the beefy Stoke City. So I say Torres gets the nod and 60 minutes to prove he can do more out there than the ageing Ivorian. Whether he does or not I fear to estimate. However, having Drogba and Kalou on the bench to inject both pace and aerial prowess with half an hour to go is about as dangerous as any subs in the game today. This is what I want to see:
Cech
Bos, Bane, EB(and loyal)JT, Coley
Ram, Bison, Lamps, Yuridinho
Torres, Anelka

subs: Drogba, Kalou, Mikel

Score: 2-0 Chels (goals coming from Torres and Drogba)

KTBFFfuckingH....
Jack

Team news is in and featured in the Rant Box. You're not going to be pleased with the front pairing.
Sharinganfx

Already feeling it. Walking down the street with my C-league range, some guy yells "you guys going down tonight". I was ready to pounce haha. LOVE IT
zach

lets hope frankie kills it in his 500th game for the blues! and torres scores 4..
Mateo

i dont know why but i have a feeling that this might be the night that Torres pops the cherry!
dan

c'mon chelsea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!c'mon chelsea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!c'mon chelsea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
orthodoxyordeath

Congratulations Devin!!! All the best man, she'll be a lucky girl. (Although, she better be a football fan :) ).

On a football note, can't wait for tomorrow's match. Hopefully we can continue on in this competition and perhaps win this one. After seeing the Stoke game, I'm not convinced. But if Carlo gets his head out of his butt, makes good subs, puts out a fantastic XI, and gets the train trained up well this week, we'll be golden. If we win, I'm willing to write off the Stoke game as rustiness, and exhaustion from the international break. Cheers to all my fellow Blues, watch the game tomorrow with pride.

KTBFFH