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Monday’s match between Chelsea and Manchester United will be one that Chelsea will surely want to make amends to their fans with for their 6-0 humiliation against Manchester City a couple of days back. The Blues will see this as a chance to remind everyone that they too are still a force to be reckoned with.
On the other hand, Manchester United suffered their first defeat since the appointment of Ole Gunnar as boss against PSG in the Champions League. They will be in the hunt for the win as well, just to assure their faithful that the PSG loss was just a bump on the road and not a sign of things to come.
The FA Cup tie that pits these two English giants will be one that fans and neutrals will be eager to watch. It will surely be a match worth watching as both teams will go for the win. It promises to be one of those games that will be end to end, as well as one you don’t blink while watching.
Here are five Chelsea players to look out for against Manchester United.
#1 Emerson Palmieri
Emerson was brought in to provide cover for the exceptional Marcos Alonso. And though it has not really gone well for him, he’s now looking capable of displacing Alonso from the left back position. Though both are not traditional fullbacks - as they like to get forward, Emerson has shown a great level of stability when he has been played.
With a wicked left foot, pace, precision, and power to get up and down the wing, he will surely worry Manchester United. When Chelsea needs width they will be counting on the Brazilian left back to provide it and put in a decent amount of crosses into the opposition box.
If Manchester United doesn’t take him as a threat, he may just be the one that really unravels them on that left flank. And with Manchester United’s right back position being one that’s not stable, you have to feel that Emerson may have something to say in this game.
#2 Jorginho
Italian midfielder Jorginho is one player that is quite crucial to how Sarri’s Chelsea play, and by that account, he’s proving undroppable. He kind of puts out exactly what Sarri envisions in the field of play, and that’s why even the magnificent N’Golo Kante had to be pushed forward to accommodate him in the team.
Against a United side that has been playing with pace and counter attacks, the Italian will even be more crucial since he will be tasked with trying to break down most United attacks. He will also be the one tasked with starting most of Chelsea’s attacks, and knitting how they play.
If he can come alive and dictate the game in the manner that made Chelsea buy him from Napoli, Manchester United will have a lot to contend with.
The Italian has great vision, is technically capable, and his use of the ball is quite a thing of joy at times. He will make sure that United don’t have space in the midfield to do much damage to his team. Jorginho goes around his business quietly - United will have to be watchful of him.
#3 N’Golo Kante
N’Golo Kante was predominantly a defensive midfielder, but his role has been changed to a more box to box player this season. Kante was known for his tireless running, as he could cover every blade of grass for 90 minutes.
With the arrival of Jorginho, Kante’s role was changed as Jorginho is the one tasked with staying deep in midfield. The manager wanted someone that could bring some level of creativity to the midfield as well as break up opposition play. Kante though, still has an important part to play, with his defensive know-how, he now presses opposition from high up the pitch.
He also comes in deep when the midfield is overwhelmed and gives his support to his full-backs when they venture forward. No doubt that Kante is one of the manager's most trusted players, even with a change in style of play. Against United, he will come up against his French teammate and will want to make sure that Pogba doesn’t get one over him.
With the way United have been playing, Kante will be quite crucial in trying to stop them as well as trying to get into attacking positions to have a crack at goal. If Chelsea is to win, he will have a great say in the proceedings.
#4 Eden Hazard
What more can be said about Eden Hazard?
Of course, he was bound to appear on this list at some point. He’s by far Chelsea’s most influential player today, and their talisman. The number ten will probe, dribble, and try to trick his way into the United box all through the game, and if given just one chance - he’ll hurt them.
Hazard has shown it times without number that he’s one of those players that can just create something out of nothing, and United will have to be watchful of him throughout the game. United will most likely double up on him, and that will provide Chelsea with an added advantage since that will mean one Chelsea player will not be marked when Hazard has the ball.
If the supporting cast uses that to their advantage, they may just end up winning this game early enough thanks to their number ten. And after a not so great showing against City, Hazard will surely feel like he owes it to the fans to have a great game against United in this FA Cup tie.
#5 Gonzalo Higuaín
After months of struggling for goals, Chelsea seems to have finally found their man in Gonzalo Higuaín. The Argentine is a world class striker and a clinical finisher - just what Chelsea needed to get their season back on track. He will be the focal point of Chelsea’s attacks, something that they have missed this season, and when on song, Manchester United will have their hands full.
The likes of Eden Hazard will be glad to run off him as he tries to pull United defenders out of position with his intelligent style of play. Also, the wingers will be sure that they have someone that can convert their crosses when they send them in, so they won’t have to worry much about coming infield to score the goals themselves.
The Argentine will be trouble for the Manchester United side, and they have to do all they can to contain him, or else he may just make a mockery out of them. And as United don’t have a world-class defender; Higuaín may be rubbing his hands in glee.
