Despite Man Utd's slight slip up on Saturday
and Chelsea's win at Everton on Thursday to
close the gap to three points the game at Stamford
Bridge is nothing more
than a painful day in waiting.It's fairly clear to anyone who has watched the
majority of the season that Manchester United have been the better side, and
this coming from an Arsenal fan who watched his side's season capitulate in the
blink of an eye. But when it comes to Chelsea
they have certainly been doing just enough to get by in the era of Grant, I
think its safe to say that luck has been on the side of the Blues for a few
games this season with the home game against Middlesbrough coming to mind. Chelsea, while
processing the stars that they do, have failed to impress me nearly every time
I have watched them this season with players like Drogba and Joe Cole being the
saviours for the side on a
number of occasions.
Things have certainly changed at the
Bridge, in the days of Mourinho you kind of expected Chelsea
to score at some point in the game and you knew that against most teams they
were never going to concede. Now they look shaky at the back, without Drogba
they lack much of their goal threat and since the Mourinho left the players no
longer look interested. The likes of Drogba and Lampard have been cruising
through the season waiting for what the summer may bring, a move away from the
Blues. With the squad Avram Grant has you would expect Chelsea
to be up there with United and Grant has done that but where he has failed, and
Mourinho succeeded, is with his tactics. When things aren't going Chelsea's
way the man look clueless, his substitutions are ones that have many of
the
fans shaking their heads at. Aside from bringing on Nicolas Anelka against
Arsenal it's hard to think of a change which has worked. While the Chelsea players mind may
be on the Champions
League Semi-final it will still be lurking at the back of heads
that this Saturday will be do or die.
Whilst down in London Chelsea have
been scarping by in Manchester teams have
simply been blown away by United this season. I can't remember a side looking
like they are going to score every time they go forward since the Arsenal
invincible's. Frankly United have been awesome, strong at the back whilst
playing some magical 
stuff further up the field. They may have dropped off the pace slightly
in the past few weeks but I don't think anyone expected them to keep it up
right until the end. They no possess something they haven't had since the
treble winning squad of 99 which is not only a great team but a great bench as
well, back in 1999 Ferguson had players
like Teddy Sheringham and Old Gunnar Solskjaer to bring in when things were
going against them. Now Ferguson
has the likes of Nani and Anderson to call on, both players who can change a
game in a heartbeat.
Photo by Wallyg
Now we have come to the crunch part
of the season with United still left with Chelsea
on their coat tails and this Saturday's massive
game. Despite Chelsea's formidable
home record and their gluttony of stars I can only see this going one of two
ways, either a predictable draw or a heart wrenching lose for the home side.
It's ironic that it comes down to games like this where sides can win the title
at the home of their closest rivals, Arsenal did it in 2002 at Old Trafford and
in 1989 at Anfield. United will have bitter memories of being spanked 3-0 by Chelsea
at the bridge for them to lift the title and they won't have forgotten it.
Patrice Evra has stated his desire to win the title at Stamford Bridge and
what a way to cap off a majestic season it would be. That is why I am going for
a United win to once and for all end the stuttering dreams of Chelsea
for this season at least.
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