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Former colleagues Jose Mourinho and Van Gaal set to clash at the Old TraffordThis weekend can’t come soon enough for football fans. Along with the El Clásico, we have Manchester United hosting league leaders Chelsea in what promises to be an absolute cracker.United go into the game on the back of a three game winning streak at home, but it will take some task to extend that run as they face a Chelsea side that are undefeated in the league this season.Both teams are missing key players due to injuries and suspension. Captain Wayne Rooney is serving the last of his 3 game ban for the hosts while César Azpilicueta is suspended for Chelsea. Top goal scorer Diego Costa and Loic Remy also miss out due to injury for the visitors.Here are the 5 factors that will determine the outcome of this game.
#1 Who leads the line for Chelsea
Chelsea will be without talisman Diego Costa who has failed to recover from the hamstring injury he picked up while on international duty with Spain. To make matters worse, Loic Remy came off in the mid-week Champions League game against Maribor with a groin problem.
That leaves just Didier Drogba, who is yet to start a Premier League game this season, as the teams’ only fit and available striker. There are talks of Mourinho deploying Andre Schürrle as a false nine, but that same tactic didn’t work last season when these 2 sides played out a boring 0-0 draw.
Mourinho has a tough decision on his hands but based on his previous record, he usually gets the big decisions right.
#2 Tactical battle between Van Gaal and Mourinho
This match also marks the reunion of Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho who previously worked together at Barcelona. Van Gaal had famously promoted Mourinho from an interpreter to his third assistant at the Camp Nou.
The Dutchman faces his former assistant for only the second time in a competitive setting. The last meeting being the 2010 Champions league Final where Mourinho came out on top.
Both men are great tacticians and know each other very well which should make for an absorbing battle. Despite their friendship, the high stakes mean that we’re in for a scintillating encounter. Under Mourinho, Chelsea are experts in big games like this but Van Gaal will fancy his sides chances against a weakened Chelsea attack.
#3 How Van Gaal\'s United will line up
Manchester United have lately played with a midfield diamond that has brought the best out of Di María. This has enabled Van Gaal to accommodate both Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie up front. But United played with a five-man midfield for the first time this season against West Brom which suggested that Van Gaal had one eye on the Chelsea game this weekend.Knowing Mourinho, Chelsea may flood the midfield making them almost impossible to break down but lethal on the counter attack. For that reason, Van Gaal may drop his favoured 4-1-2-1-2 formation, instead going in for a five-man midfield that mirrors the Chelsea shape, and play only one man up front.
Marouane Fellaini has put himself into contention for selection with a return to form against West Brom. With Blind and Herrera alongside him, Fellaini would have the freedom to get forward and provide a secondary offensive threat while also providing a defensive shield that would stifle the threat of this free-scoring Chelsea side.
#4 How United manage their shaky defense and neutralise Fabregas
Although United have leaked at least a goal in every game except one this season, they will take heart from the fact that Chelsea’s main strikers will be missing the game. However, Chelsea still have enough fire power to cause them plenty of problems.
In Oscar, Willian and Hazard they have the speed to turn defence into attack in seconds.
While Diego Costa may be grabbing all the headlines with his incredible goal scoring prowess, it is Cesc Fabregas who has been the unsung hero of this seemingly unstoppable Chelsea side. He looks ready to find the gaps in United’s already shaky defence and add to his 7 assists.
If Daley Blind manages to keep him quite it will definitely swing the balance of the game in United's favour.
#5 How Chelsea plan to stop Di Mara
Ángel Di María has been United’s best player by far this season. The Argentine has effortlessly settled into life at his new club to become their most potent attacking weapon.
His pace, skill and technique has seen him contribute an incredible 3 goals and 4 assists in just 6 games.
Despite keeping 3 clean sheets, Chelsea have been far from solid defensively and have conceded 5 goals against the likes of Everton and Swansea. They should be mindful of giving Di María time and space because he is certainly capable of hurting them in more ways than one. He's the type of player who scares opposition managers and Mourinho will surely have a special plan to counter his threat.
