'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The first clash of the proverbial titans was played out after the second weekend had ended, and it was no surprise that it was pitched as a cracking fixture, at least on paper.
David Moyes’s first real challenge was none other than probably his biggest foe this season, Jose Mourinho. United and Chelsea are one of the three big contenders for the title this year, including Manchester City, who were probably still hurting from the surprise loss to Cardiff City.
Manchester United manager David Moyes (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) and right, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Chelsea were wary of Old Trafford, even though they did beat the Red Devils last year by a lone goal in the corresponding fixture. United, however, beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, 3-2.
Chelsea had already gathered maximum points from their two fixtures last week and were leading the table, while United had demolished Swansea with a surprise brace by Danny Welbeck. The fixture looked all set to provide an answer to which team has a better claim to the title this season. United also had greater incentive to win, because if the result went against them, they would be trailing Chelsea by 6 points, right at the start of their campaign. In addition, both managers were looking to add a marquee win to their new jobs.
It may have ended a stalemate, and Mourinho will rue his experiment in the latter stages of the campaign. Moyes was more than happy to take the one point, but the home fans know it could have been all three. A drab game to have stayed up for, but a lot of fodder for the water-cooler chat.
The midfield battle
Chelsea started with all three of their strikers on the bench, which isn’t the newest of tactics, and it has failed teams in the past. Cesc Fabregas played a midfielder cum striker role for Spain, and was marginally successful in Euro 2012 (he scored two goals, one less than Torres), which they did eventually win after beating Italy hollow with 4-0 win.
A heavily reinforced midfield, which sacrificed both Fernando Torres and Romelu Lukaku, was orchestrating a steady foray, but was unable to string together more than three passes before losing the ball. Hazard, Schurrle, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar and De Bruyne played a modified false 9, but failed to make any inroads initially. The lack of a target man was clear, and maybe Mourinho was guilty of a blunder. Oscar was the only one to get a couple of shots away, but he managed to find De Gea with ease.
Eventually, when the former Real Madrid manager did bring Torres on, De Bruyne was the once chosen to make way, and his yellow card may have had something to do with that decision.
United, on the other hand, started with three established forwards in the form of Robin van Persie, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney. Rooney and Welbeck concentrated on getting the ball through the middle, rather than push forward individually. Valencia and Cleverly were the most animated right from the start of the second half, creating recognizable chances which were fluffed out by a very aware Chelsea defence – Ivanovic and Cole to be specific.
RVP, who?
Robin van Persie of Manchester United competes with Ramires of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on August 26, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Certainly a danger to begin with, Robin van Persie looked quite subdued as opposed to his usual flamboyant self. Credit to Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry here, who ensured that the Dutch striker never found enough space to exercise his left foot. His best chance found the side netting, and he wasn’t able to actually connect with Rooney, who found him on a couple of occasions.
Wayne Rooney did even eclipse the striker, and that may be a sign of things to come. Van Persie’s shot in the final moments was blocked off by the wall of Chelsea players, who had done their homework. For the moment, fantasy football fans should stick with van Persie, and write this one off as a tough cookie.
The big switch
Wayne Rooney of Manchester United looks on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on August 26, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Wayne Rooney was a surprise inclusion in the first team, after transfer speculation doing the rounds almost forced the United manager David Moyes to pause and think. A highly reported rumour suggests a possible switch between Chelsea and the red side of Manchester, with Juan Mata shifting to United and Rooney travelling to Chelsea. However absurd this may seem, it may be the reason why Mata hasn’t really reprised the role he played last season. The latest addition of the Brazilian Willian will further raise doubts as to what will become of the highly rated Spaniard.
Rooney, though, seemed to be playing without a worry in the world. He was central to the United attack; creating and challenging for possession. He even created a chance which he could only thump lightly into the hands of Cech, but he didn’t seem perturbed by any possible speculation. Moyes sent out a clear message that Rooney is clearly not being side-lined just yet, and Chelsea will need more than a miracle to pry him out of Manchester United.
