Match preview for Chelsea v Manchester United
Chelsea desperately need to bounce back from their damaging defeat to Newcastle United last time out when they host Manchester United on Friday.
The Blues were beaten 2-0 at St James’ Park last Sunday, Enzo Maresca’s men seeing striker Nicolas Jackson shown a straight red card in the first half of a loss that served as a significant setback to their hopes of finishing in the top five.
Chelsea’s destiny is still in their own hands with two games to go, but they trail third-placed Newcastle by three points with two games to go and are a point behind Manchester City. They are only ahead of sixth-placed Aston Villa because of goal difference.
With Villa kicking off against Tottenham, United’s opponents in the Europa League final, earlier on Friday, Chelsea cannot afford a slip-up as they seek a return to a competition in which they have not played since the 2022-23 season.
It is a stroke of fortune then, that Friday’s opponents will in large part be focused on ensuring they do not suffer any injuries ahead of Wednesday’s final with Tottenham in Bilbao, as United look to salvage a trophy, and Champions League qualification, from the worst season in their Premier League history.
United have suffered 17 defeats in the league this season and can finish no higher than 13th, with manager Ruben Amorim enduring a torrid time domestically since taking over from Erik ten Hag.
The Red Devils, though, did hold Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford back in November, and the task of breaking down United’s back five may be complicated by a striker shortage with Jackson now set to miss this clash and the potentially decisive trip to Nottingham Forest on the final day because of his suspension.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, though, expressed confidence his team will find a way through.
“We won almost all the games against a low block and a back five,” Maresca told his pre-match press conference.
“The only difference is when we face these kinds of teams, probably we didn’t attack quick.
“But if you go back – West Ham, Wolves, Leicester, or more teams we have faced with a line of five, I think our results have been good. It’s just a matter to learn to play a different game.”
For Chelsea to keep the issue of qualification in their own hands, they must vindicate Maresca’s belief.
Team news for Chelsea v Manchester United
Chelsea may have to turn to the false nine option with Jackson banned and Marc Guiu still out injured.
Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto are likely candidates to operate in that role. Christopher Nkunku would be another, but he remains out with a knock suffered in training. Jadon Sancho cannot play against his parent club.
Tyrique George could also operate up front for the Blues having done so in the Conference League.
There is good news at the back, however, with Reece James fit enough to play despite battling illness this week.
United defender Leny Yoro suffered a foot injury in the loss to West Ham last weekend and missed training along with fellow centre-backs Matthijs de Ligt and Ayden Heaven, meaning it could be a case of a depleted forward line going against a depleted back line at Stamford Bridge.
Predicted line-ups for Chelsea v Manchester United
Chelsea: Sanchez, James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, George, Neto
Manchester United: Bayindir, Fredericson, Lindelof, Shaw, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dorgu, Mount, Eriksen, Obi.
Stats for Chelsea v Manchester United
Chelsea have won just one of their last 14 Premier League games against United (D8 L5). That came in this fixture last season, which they won 4-3.United have won only one of their last 11 Premier League away games against Chelsea (D5 L5), a 2-0 victory in February 2020 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.Chelsea v United is the most drawn fixture in Premier League history, with the 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture marking a 27th stalemate. Both meetings between the sides finished level in seven previous campaigns (1998-99, 2000-01, 2006-07, 2015-16, 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22).
