Preview: FA Cup Final - United v Chelsea
A match between the nation’s top two teams at a revamped Wembley, with the chance for each side to claim a historic Double. Could the prospects for a classic FA Cup final be any better?
“To do the double again would be fantastic for us,” Sir Alex said. “The big pressure was on us to win the league. That was the priority for us given the fact Chelsea had steamrollered the league the previous two years.
“It was a fantastic performance by us to win it. Now we hope with the confidence we had from that, we will go on and enjoy ourselves and perform really well.”
United go head to head with Chelsea later today hoping to cement their position as the rising force of English football, a team mixing young talent and veteran genius to produce an often devastating cocktail of power, pace, flair, artistry and goals, goals goals.
Chelsea, less easy on the eye but with a pragmatism and ruthlessness that demand utter respect, are the most formidable of foes, wounded by the loss of the title after two years of success. Like a bully brutally stripped of authority, the ex-champions appear brittle, beset with doubt. One win on the nation’s most famous turf over the new Premiership kings and faith would be restored at a stroke.
Ferguson said: “I am acutely aware that on the one side you have a wounded animal who have lost the league to us. On the other hand you have got a team with confidence and I just have to make sure there is no distinction between the two teams in terms of the desire to win. I think that will be important.
“I expect a good game. I think both teams will rise to the occasion. I think both teams will play good football. If we do perform really well we have a massive chance.”
United enter the game as slight favourites and with the momentum of having won the title. They will also want to put on a show, having allowed West Ham to rain on their homecoming parade last weekend. The need to demonstrate excellence is all the more glaring, as Sir Alex’s team was cut to ribbons by Arsenal this season and ran out of Liverpool like a thief in the night, after a three point Anfield mugging last March. A winning performance against a great rival would put to rest any lingering doubts in west London about United’s value as England’s best. It would also end the nightmares provoked by the penalty shoot-out, cup loss to Arsenal two years ago.
Fortunately, the mainstays are fit and ready to take the field. The central defensive pairing of Ferdinand and Vidic is in place. Control of the midfield, upon which the destiny of the match depends, will be entrusted to the tested combination of Scholes and Carrick, with perhaps Fletcher added to counter Chelsea’s grinding power and athleticism. Up front, Rooney may be asked to shoulder United’s attacking responsibilities alone, flanked by Giggs and the estimable Ronaldo.
The winger has been flat of late, with the suspicion being that a niggling injury took some of the fizz from his game. Let Wembley be the stage upon which the season’s best player by a country mile shows the character to dominate a match of importance for United. Critics complain that Ronaldo bamboozles the likes of Reading and Fulham but is yet to have the same impact against more knowing opponents. Chelsea’s Ashley Cole, if fit, would have few tremors lining up to face Ronaldo, believing that he has the winger in his pocket since Euro 2004. Never has the Portuguese magician had a better opportunity to silence his doubters. Stand up Ronaldo!
Questions might be asked of Ronaldo’s form and temperament but similar inquiries are being made in respect of the Stamford Bridge outfit. This season was supposed to be a coronation and could end conceivably with the insubstantial League cup as the fruit of Chelsea’s labour. Whilst injuries to Ballack and Shevchenko bring happy selection clarity to the manager, the loss of Carvalho is an enormous blow. Mourinho’s lack of adequate cover offers an important opening to United.
The defender’s absence and the enduring weakness at right back have stripped Chelsea of some of their lustre and capacity to terrorise. Mourinho has moaned all week about having only 16 fit players available. In talking up his team’s injuries, the Chelsea manager seems intent on transforming his £500 million west London behemoth into plucky underdogs. Sir Alex will have none of this nonsense. The Reds boss can point to Chelsea’s teamsheet featuring the Premiership’s best keeper, England’s captain, the blooming authority of Obi Mikel, Essien’s effervescence, the mercurial Joe Cole and the Drogba bludgeon. Lampard, SWP and Robben are on hand also, to give Chelsea every chance of victory.
But United should not be afraid. If Sir Alex’s men can achieve the level of fluency, resilience and control that has marked this championship year in general and the home triumph over Bolton and Blackburn in particular, they should be too much even for Chelsea. Concentration and the maintenance of a sure midfield grip throughout the game will allow the flair players to probe weaknesses in the Chelsea rearguard and bring the trophy home.
A 12th FA Cup victory and Ferguson’s fourth Double would bring a deserved gloss to the season. Moreover, victory in this Titanic Ali-Frazier-like contest, would confirm this team as one worthy of comparison with Fergie’s greatest creations in 1994 and 1999. Could there be any higher motivation for Rio, Rooney and Ronaldo? Come on United.
