5 things Chelsea needs to do in order to beat Manchester United

The FA Cup final at Wembley. One game by virtue of which the season can be labelled a success.

Chelsea and Manchester United both know the magnitude of the FA Cup final and what a win on Saturday would mean for both clubs. Both teams have not tasted silverware this season and this is their last chance to do so.

Antonio Conte especially knows the significance of this tie as the future of the Italian manager in the Chelsea dugout is in considerable doubt. After winning the league in sensational style last season, the Blues have under performed this season, finishing a paltry fifth in the league. A win on Saturday would do a whole lot of good for his future prospects at Stamford Bridge.

The Chelsea players also have not performed at the level of last season and they would surely like to bow out on a high this season. On that note, here are 5 things Chelsea need to do to beat Manchester United.

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#1 Start on the front foot

Antonio Conte's side should start the game aggressively

Jose Mourinho normally starts these sort of games cautiously and is a reactive manager rather than a proactive one.

Tottenham Hotspur started the game all guns blazing in the semi-final and caused the Red Devils quite some problems. Spurs took the lead early and had quite a few chances to build a solid lead but they didn't take them.

Chelsea had a similar experience in last season's corresponding final when Arsenal began the game rampantly and the Blues could never quite recover.

If Conte's men can get a goal by starting aggressively, the tide would hugely turn in their favour. It would enable them so sit back and hit United on the counter, which they certainly can do proficiently.

#2 Line up with a three man midfield

Who will partner Kante in midfield?

Conte's three-man defence formation has two versions, a 3-4-3 and a 3-5-2. The Italian should opt for the latter, as it would enable them to match the three United midfielders which would most likely be Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba.

All three are certainly solid performers. If Chelsea partner N'Golo Kante with just one of Cesc Fabregas or Tiemoue Bakayoko, Mourinho's midfield trio will definitely overrun the Chelsea duo.

Furthermore, Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard, two of United's front three like to drop deep to receive the ball. This makes it all the more vital for Conte to deploy that extra man in midfield.

Also, sadly for Conte neither Fabregas nor Bakayoko seem capable enough at this juncture to form a solid duo alongside Kante. Thus that trio could be a need rather than a choice.

#3 Exploit the wide Wembley pitch

Chelsea's wing-backs can exploit the width Wembley Stadium offers

Chelsea's new formation caught everyone by surprise last season. One of their main threats with this lineup is the effectiveness of wing-backs Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses.

When the Blues are in possession these wing-backs are essentially wingers as they are so advanced in their position. Also, their attacking process make them a deadly weapon especially the Nigerian Moses who is a former winger.

The bigger area of the Wembley turf will please Alonso and Moses as they will be able to stretch the United backline even more efficiently. It will draw their respective full-backs wider which will enable Hazard and Giroud to carve out spaces in the channels created.

Furthermore, spraying the ball wide and crossing towards Giroud will be an effective technique, given the Frenchman's aerial prowess.

#4 Prepare a strategy if Eden Hazard were to be man-marked

Hazard is Chelsea's most potent attacking threat

Eden Hazard is the most crucial element of this Chelsea attack and Mourinho has exploited this over dependence on the Belgian in the past. He gave man-marking assignments on the Blues' talisman in their last two visits to Old Trafford and it paid dividends.

Both teams desire the win on Saturday and Mourinho would not hesitate to use this negative tactic to smother Chelsea.

Conte must devise a strategy for this situation. His side definitely look toothless in attack without Hazard's input and he will have to come up with a way to counter it.

Fabregas could be given an advanced role or the formation could be tweaked otherwise to ramp up Chelsea's attack. One thing is for sure, Conte will need to keep a backup plan ready if Hazard were to be indeed man-marked.

#5 Minimize Alexis Sanchez's impact

Stifling Sanchez will be crucial for Chelsea

Alexis Sanchez has not had a blinding start in Manchester colours but he is finding his feet now. He was one of the most impactful players for United in the semi-final against Spurs, scoring the equaliser on that day.

Sanchez could start upfront as Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial are injury doubts or he could be used in his usual left wing position. Whatever the position, he is bound to trouble the Chelsea backline.

Aside from the attacking threat, the Chilean's unending desire to run after every loose ball and harass the defenders will not be welcomed by Gary Cahill and company.

Chelsea will need to keep Sanchez quiet and not present him with any chance to threaten Thibaut Courtois. Cesar Azpilicueta and Victor Moses especially will need to be up to the task, and both of them are more than capable of it.