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The biggest clash in Europe this weekend takes place in London, as Chelsea host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
The fixture promises fireworks, as both clubs are among the biggest in the world, and despite their contrasting fortunes thus far this season, will each seek to get maximum points from the match for both bragging rights and to consolidate on their positions in the league table.
Chelsea’s explosive start to the season, which sees them unbeaten after eight matches, sitting joint-top of the table having picked up 20 points from a possible 24, sees them installed as heavy favorites, more so due to Manchester United’s lethargic performances thus far.
The Red Devils began this season with their worst start to a Premier League campaign, losing three of their opening seven matches, before a stirring 3-2 comeback victory over Newcastle having been 2-0 down at the break last time out, saw them move up to 8th place on the log.
The Red Devils however still find themselves some way off the top teams, and are in a state of turmoil amidst rumors of player wrangling and uncertainty over their manager’s future.
Due to all these destabilizing factors, very few people will give The Red Devils any chance heading into Saturday’s clash. However, United on their day can hold their own against any team in the land, and will fancy their chances of pulling off a shock victory against Chelsea. Here are three factors which could see them defeat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
#3 Their illustrious pedigree
Manchester United are by far the biggest club in England, possessing an illustrious history which ranks high up there with the best in the world.
They are one of the most successful clubs in all of Europe, possessing feverish fans running into their hundreds of millions across the world which makes the team one of the most instantly recognizable and followed brands on the planet.
Putting on the United crest is one of the highest honors as player could have in his career, as all the history and legendary players attached to the club puts it a step higher than others when it comes to pedigree.
Despite the shenanigans associated with the club, some of the biggest players in the world still represent Manchester United, and these are players who can hold their own anywhere in the world with the best of the best.
The pedigree of putting the United crest above personal shortcomings came to the fore when the club rallied from two goals down to defeat city rivals Manchester City 3-2 at the Etihad last season, when they knew defeat in that match would have handed the title to them in the most embarrassing fashion.
Manchester United may be in crisis while Chelsea are high flying at the moment, but the history and calibre of players at Old Trafford could see the Red Devils rally to pull off an unexpected victory against Chelsea.
#2 The Mourinho factor
Jose Mourinho is one of the most successful coaches in history, winning multiple titles across four different major European leagues, including two Champions League trophies won with FC Porto and Inter Milan.
His most successful spell however came at Chelsea, with whom he won eight trophies across two spells in charge of the club and till this day remains the most successful manager in the club’s history, winning exactly half of The Blues’ six domestic titles.
The self styled ‘Special One’ won Chelsea hearts the world over, as he helped transform the club’s fortunes from being a modest club attempting to break into the upper echelons of British football into becoming a genuine European footballing heavyweight.
He guided the London outfit to its first league title in over 50 years in record breaking fashion in his first season at the helm in 2005, repeating the feat a season later, but departed in acrimonious circumstances in 2007. He returned again in 2013 to once more get sacked after a shambolic start to the 2015/2016 season, which was fuelled by player clashes with the manager, but not before he had guided the club to another Premier League and League Cup title the season before.
Since the end of his second spell at Stamford Bridge, the 58-year-old has not had happy memories of his return to his former stomping ground, and was given a 4-0 drubbing on his first visit to the club against then manager Antonio Conte.
Jose Mourinho’s intimate familiarity with the inner workings of the club, as well as the fact that he worked closely with and in most cases signed a lot of Chelsea’s key players is a big factor which could swing this tie in the favour of the visitors.
#1 Manchester United will be desperate to send a statement of intent
As stated earlier, Manchester United are in a patchy run of form which has seen them pick up just four victories from their opening eight matches thus far.
However, the comeback victory in their last fixture against Newcastle served as a timely reminder of the club’s abilities, and their current malaise is not one which should be associated with a club the stature of Manchester United.
Despite all the talk of crises at the club, the bottomline is that the season is only eight matches in, so nothing is yet sealed in concrete, and Manchester United, as improbable as it seems, can still rally back to salvage something from this season and possibly go on to challenge for the title.
Manchester United’s players are desperate to turnaround their fortunes this season and truly kick start their season, and a good way to do so would be by sending a timely reminder to the rest of the league about their ambitions and capabilities by defeating one of the in-form teams in Chelsea.
