Manchester United v Chelsea: match preview

Old Trafford
Kick-off: 19.45 BST
TV: SS2

Chelsea will take heart from the clubs’ last meeting at Old Trafford last April, when they won 2-1 to virtually seal the league title. United have not lost at home since, though, and they have never lost a European tie in which they won the first leg away from home. In fact, the feat has only been achieved twice in Champions League history.

KEY CLASHES:

Rafael v Florent Malouda

Yuri Zhirkov was preferred to Malouda on the left flank in the first leg, but with Chelsea chasing the game, Carlo Ancelotti is likely to opt for Malouda’s greater pace and impetus. Malouda will be allowed to play further forward than Zhirkov was, posing Rafael (or John O’Shea if the Brazilian fails to overcome injury) a more imminent threat. Chelsea’s front line should benefit from earlier crosses, while Malouda’s late drifts to the back post when the ball comes in from the opposite flank provide another goalscoring option.

Javier Hernandez v John Terry

With Wayne Rooney again set to take up a deeper role, Hernandez’s will be the red shirt most frequently in Terry’s eyeline. While Hernandez’s speed is a threat, Terry is tactically shrewd enough to allow for that. It is the Mexican’s clever, perfectly-judged runs into the area that so often put him in goalscoring positions. If Terry is caught ball-watching for even a fraction of a second, Hernandez has the nous to catch him out.

Michael Carrick v Frank Lampard Carrick was sensational in the first leg - not only setting up the only goal with a superb crossfield pass, but controlling the tempo of the game in midfield and hardly ever giving the ball away. Lampard was often guilty of trying to find the killer through-pass rather than his usual game of give-and-go, and he will have to be little cuter this time round, as well as pressing Carrick sooner when in possession.

FORM GUIDE:

Chelsea WDWDLW
Manchester United WWWWWW

Man in charge

Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal)

One of the more flamboyant whistlers in Uefa’s coterie of highly-trained automatons. Benquerenca has refereed United four times, including their home draw against Rangers earlier this season, and Chelsea have won both their games in which he has officiated. Last seen on our screens taking charge of Wales v England three weeks ago, in which a penalty he awarded against Wales’s James Collins was converted by Frank Lampard.

Stats

3 Fernando Torres has scored in all three of his previous all-English Champions League ties.

Betting

Manchester United 5/4, Chelsea 9/4, Draw 12/5

And…

John Terry is 66/1 with Ladbrokes to miss a penalty, as he did in the 2008 Champions League final.

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PARK FOCUSED ON END PRODUCT

Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung insists possession counts for nothing in the modern game unless it can be converted into shots on goal.

United secured a precious away win at Stamford Bridge last week in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Chelsea

despite only having 46% of the ball.

It follows a trend started by Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan last term, who were content to let Barcelona pass the ball around during their semi-final but denying them any space to exhibit their attacking skills.

At Old Trafford, United would normally be expected to take the match to their visitors. But Park has warned Red Devils fans that might not necessarily be the case.

"Possession is not important," said the former South Korea star.

"What is important is how many chances you create, or how many shots on target you have.

"The other team having the ball in front of us is not a big problem. We just watch and wait.

"If we press, then get the ball, we can play on the counter-attack."

United will go into the second leg in good heart, having maintained their seven-point advantage over nearest Premier League challengers Arsenal over the weekend.

Park was rested for the 2-0 win over Fulham, which gave the clearest hint yet that he will return tomorrow.

The energetic 30-year-old tends to reserve his most effective performances for the biggest matches.

He was one of United's standout performers last week even though it was only his second game back after two months on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.

"I try to play well in every single match, not only against Chelsea or Arsenal," he said.

"But big games feel different and I like those kind of feelings.

"I feel stronger and more powerful. Perhaps that's why I can show my performance better than in other games."

Park will not be on his own in returning.

Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Sar are certain starters too as United look to seal a last-four meeting, almost certainly with German challengers Schalke, in a fortnight.

"Chelsea have played a lot of games at Old Trafford and they won here in the league last season, so perhaps they are better than any other team," said Park.

"But we know Chelsea as well.

"We can't think about what happened last week. The second leg is totally different and could be a different result, so we are focused on what we can do.

"If we play as well as usual, then we can win.

"This season at Old Trafford our performances have been unbelievable. Hopefully we can keep doing that."

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NO WORRIES OVER LEHMANN - WENGER

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has no doubt Jens Lehmann can handle the pressure of the title run-in after his last-minute call to the veteran on Sunday.

Wenger was forced to throw the 41-year-old, only recently coaxed out of retirement to provide emergency cover, into a must-win Barclays Premier League encounter at Blackpool

after first-choice Manuel Almunia was injured in the warm-up.

The German, making his first Gunners appearance in three years, initially had little to do as his side established a 2-0 lead with a commanding first-half display at Bloomfield Road.

He then survived a few nervy moments as the visitors went on to record a 3-1 win that cut Manchester United's lead at the top of the table to seven points with a game in hand.

Wenger, who will have Almunia's fitness assessed today, said: "I was not concerned because I replaced a good goalkeeper with a good goalkeeper.

"He did well. His decision-making was spot on.

"He did not have a lot to do because we controlled the game quite well. He is commanding, organising and an authority.

"We suffered a few set-pieces and on that front he is exceptionally good."

Arsenal were in complete control at half-time, leading after strikes from Abou Diaby and Emmanuel Eboue.

Blackpool responded with their customary zeal, replaying through Gary Taylor-Fletcher after referee Lee Mason allowed advantage when Lehmann appeared to bring down DJ Campbell.

Lehmann was perhaps lucky not to be sent off but Blackpool were more aggrieved that another penalty decision went against them moments later when Laurent Koscielny caught Taylor-Fletcher.

Blackpool, just a point above the relegation zone and desperate for a result, continued to press forward and had further chances before Robin van Persie settled Arsenal nerves 14 minutes from time.

Wenger is confident the Gunners can keep up the pressure on leaders United.

He said: "I think we can maintain it because we have now a big rest then we play Liverpool on Sunday and Tottenham the Wednesday after.

"We know every game we will have to give 100% to win it."

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway went into the referee's room to speak to Mason after the game.

"It was very amicable," Holloway said. "I was very calm, I can't afford not to be.

"I can't describe how I feel. How that is not a penalty I just do not know, to be perfectly blunt."

The Tangerines' form remains a serious concern after just one win in 12 games.

Holloway added: "I'll shut up. Let's get on with it and have another go against Wigan next week.

"There are an awful lot of points still to play for."

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