Will United keep
Chelsea at bay without Rooney? The point difference is just one but
Wayne Rooney will miss this match with a sprained ankle. All those that
have been saying that the Red Devils is a one-man team will get the
chance to be proven right or wrong.
After the loss in
Munich to Bayern, United need to get back on track quickly and that
means that players like Dimitar Berbatov must start to deliver.
Chelsea, on the
other hand, do not have the distraction of the Champions League, but
United welcome Bayern to Old Trafford next Wednesday, so there is no
let-off. The Blues have scored 12 goals in their last two outings and
will believe this is as good as any time to be playing Alex Ferguson’s
men.
No further injury
concerns for Carlo Ancelotti means that he can field the same team that
destroyed Aston Villa 7-1 but herein lays the challenge: Didier Drogba,
with 24 goals in the league, was left on the bench for the duration of
the match. Chelsea may be without Didier Drogba has he sat out the last
two days of Chelsea training after picking up a knock. If he is
available, it will inevitably lead to questions about the compatibility
of playing him and Nicolas Anelka. But like they say in football, you
do not change a winning team. Point to note is that during the Africa
Cup of Nations Cup with Drogba absent, Chelsea recorded all wins. So if
he stays injured, that will save Ancelotti having to make a decision on
who to field. That means the showdown between the two highest goal
scorers would not be on show.
Alex Ferguson has
to rally his troops as they performed below par in Munich. Apart from
Darren Fletcher and Wayne Rooney, all the other players had an off day.
He also has to look at the failings of Rio Ferdinand, who is still not
back to his commanding best after a series of niggling back injuries.
Chelsea last won at
Old Trafford in 2005 when the Red Devils formed a guard of honour for
Mourinho’s team. If they get a win tomorrow, expect Chelsea to honour
their players. Let no one be fooled, the result of tomorrow’s match
will still not determine who will win the Premiership. The drama will
continue until the last match of the season.
Arsenal vs. Wolves
The Gunners were
taught a footballing lesson by Barcelona on Wednesday but they got away
with a 2-2 draw, quite commendable. If this is the new Arsenal, then
kudos to Arsene Wenger for his training this set of players. They have
shown a fighting spirit, which was ruled out before the season began;
they were hammered by Chelsea and Manchester United and then the injury
to Robin Van Persie. But every time, they have risen like the
proverbial phoenix. Their comeback against Barcelona showed that there
is still life left in their season.
There are fears
that Andrei Arshavin, William Gallas, and Captain Cesc Fabregas may not
be available for upwards of four weeks. Arshavin has been ruled out for
three weeks, while Gallas, who rushed back to action, might even miss
the World Cup.
Cesc Fabregas is
facing a scan to determine the extent of damage on his shin. He
suffered the injury firing home the 85th minute penalty against
Barcelona on Wednesday.
Scans taken are not
decisive yet but the Arsenal captain said on his team’s website: ‘I am
not good. I fear the worst, which is that I broke something but we will
have to wait. I hope I will be able to wear the Arsenal shirt again
this season”. Arsenal’s season may just peter out with all these
injuries, but do not rule out the Gunners.
Wolves are on a
good run themselves and everybody seems to have conveniently forgotten
Mick McCarthy’s decision to rest his first team against Manchester
United some weeks ago. His team have not lost in the last five and drew
their home game against Everton the last time out. At the Emirates,
they will have to show the same steely discipline that has seen them
clear the relegation waters with five points. Anything positive they
get tomorrow will be a bonus in a season which has seen them skirting
the basement places for a large part of the season.
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