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On the back of
three straight defeats in pre-season matches, Chelsea’s excuse has been
the fact that most of their players are just resuming from the World
Cup break and have only had a week of full training. But another defeat
today against rivals, Manchester United at Wembley will surely send red
lights flashing.

Nicolas Anelka
however believes they will perform better against United today: “We had
a lot of hard training sessions in the last few days. I think we are
improving in our play, we played well in some parts, and I hope we will
be okay for Manchester United on Sunday.”

The Frenchman who
was sent home from the 2010 World Cup thinks some players are still
short of match fitness. “I think we will be ready in two weeks, we are
working a lot in training but it is very difficult to play this kind of
game, it is very hard after the training, and I think we will be okay
soon,” he told the Chelsea’s official website.

He is expected to
start in a central striking role with Didier Drogba still recovering
from a hernia operation he had last month. Whether new signing, Ramires
will get to play any minute will depend on his getting a clearance from
the FA as he has not played the mandatory 75% of Brazil’s matches.

Not a must win game for United

United on the other
hand have not been able to bolster their squad as Alex Ferguson will
have wanted but he will have to help Wayne Rooney find his pre-World
Cup form. The United striker looked flat in South Africa and needs the
new season to get back on his high pedestal. He needs to repair his
image, starting with today’s match against Chelsea. More so it was the
London side that narrowly edged United to the Premiership title by a
point.

Though there are
pointers that Rooney may be rested for the season’s opener. Ferguson is
not taking the Wembley match very seriously. “Winning is part of what
we have to do, but the main object is to get everyone game time and
come back ready, fit to start the season.

“Even the Community
Shield does not come into the agenda in terms of a must win game. It’s
always been used at this club as the final part of our preparation. We
have our first game the following Monday against Newcastle.”

United will most
likely parade new Mexican import, Javier Hernandez, who has so far
scored three goals in pre-season. Rio Ferdinand is still some way off
returning to full fitness so Nemanja Vidic and Johnny Evans will
feature in central defence.

Two important
players will be missing in today’s match, Petr Cech for Chelsea and
Michael Carrick for United. The result of the match may not matter once
the season begins next Saturday but it will give an inclination as to
the strength and weaknesses of both teams.