Story of the season so far...
While United could only draw a vast majority of their away games at the start of the season, Chelsea made it all the more clear that the title would be staying at Stamford Bridge even before we reached half way through the season by dispelling of other teams emphatically. Both teams mid-way, had Personnel Issues to deal with. United held on to their star players while Chelsea saw their charismatic Assistant Manager sacked unscrupulously which derailed their form ultimately handing over the initiative to their title challengers for much of the campaign. In this period, Chelsea started losing ground on first place and United kept on stretching their lead at the summit.
But as the season concludes to an exciting finale, just as United began the season slowly, they seem to have put their foot down on the brakes while Chelsea have pressed down on the accelerator. Three games to go. United hold a three point advantage over the current champions.
Tug of War...
Should Chelsea win, then they will complete an astonishing comeback from all the mid-season woes they've been through, to jump back up to first place since cutting down a 15 point loss to restore parity with Manchester Untied. But, they would lead the table solely on goal difference. The momentum would surely be with Chelsea and the odds would favour the Title on heading back to London for a second successive year. Who would've seen this coming?
However, If Manchester United win this - arguably the most important fixture this season, then the Title is as good as theirs. They would've increased their lead to six points with two games to go. Few would bet then, that it's United's to lose.
What the season tell's us...
It's been a journey which no one could've predicted. Chelsea starting off strongly, United's dominance for a large part of the campaign and Chelsea's late resurgence together with United's surprisingly weakened thrust towards the end of the season. Chelsea have only this to play for after being knocked out of the European Champion's League last month by none other than Manchester United, who after seeing off Shalke shortly aterwards, face a Goal-iath in Barcelona in the Finals! So it's United who have more to lose now after having gotten so far. While Chelsea can brag of a vast majority of fit players to choose from, United have to carefully select their performers as they juggle with the physical strains of two major competitions.
No comment... Not just yet anyway.
It's perfectly poised. Chelsea can do a whodunit over Manchester United from an unseemingly impossible position two months ago - if they win, while it's a make it or break it game for the Red Devils. I for one am too scared to predict the final score because the way I see it is that the momentum is very much with Chelsea even though, they are playing in United's backyard. They won at United last year as well and later went on to win the title by one solitary point. A draw will do for United although it wouldn't guarantee them the title. Only a win will put Chelsea back again in the driver's seat.
The Match Officials will have a huge part to play in this game. It's only human to make errors I understand, but I'm hoping, that whichever way the game goes, it's the referees who should not be in the spotlight after 90 minutes and rather the players. Perhaps, a costly defensive error, or a stunning Volley! Not a blatant call wherein the ball did cross over the line and not giving the goal, and or an obvious off-side decision that wrecks a game which encompasses what the whole season has been like and more importantly, where the title goes... because that would ruin the day. But I'm optimistic and I feel that it will be a nerve-wracking, nail-biting, fidgety game to watch at home or in a Cafe...
I will now put my extraordinary skills as a predictor that would match even Nostradamus's call of the French revolution , to test.
Team's Starting Line-up's
In the Red Corner, weighing in at an average of 27 years of age, going in with a 4-4-1-1 Line up, with 18 titles under their belt, the Pride of North England looking to create hiiiiissssstooorry; to be the first English Club to win a record 19 trophieees, MAaaanchester United! ( Rah! Rah! )
Manager : Sir Alex Ferguson
Van Der Sar
Fabio Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Valencia Carrick Giggs Park
Rooney
Hernandez
And in the Bllllue Corner, weighing in at an average age of 30, using the traditional 4-4-2 formation, a force to reckon with on your own turf, 3 titles since the turn of the Milleniuuum and in total... Chelsea! ( Raaaaa........ fade out - Since they are playing In Manchester)
Manager : Carlo Ancelotti
Cech
Ivanovic Luiz Terry Cole
Ramires Essien Lampard Malouda
Anelka Drogba
***
... I hope you enjoy it as much as I will, Let the game Begin!!! It will be tight and I'm hoping it's a cracker. Viva Le Futbol!
"I'm going for a United win. 2-1. Shhhh!!!"
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