Chelsea v Manchester United could mark the beginning of a new era

Chelsea and Manchester United face off in one of the most important clashes in the fixture’s history. Both clubs have a chance to truly enter their new era.

Important events in history are often not recognized as important at the time. In football, this translates to various fixtures that appeared to be just another match, but in hindsight were a turning point. Maybe the result set in motion a series of events. Maybe something that happened in the game caused a butterfly effect that led to a brand-new reality. It feels as if Chelsea are on the verge of just such an event.

Of course, Chelsea have had several of these events in their past. Making it into the Champions League, prompting Roman Abramovich to purchase the club was one. Overturning the Napoli deficit in the Champions League with the “old guard” that were supposed to be phased out at the end of the season was another.

How about the New Year’s loss to Tottenham that resulted in Jose Mourinho reverting to park-the-bus tactics for the remainder of the title-winning season? The loss to Leicester after which Mourinho claimed that the players “betrayed his work”?

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Now, with Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge as the Manchester United manager, a similarly important event could be about to occur.

There is no doubt that Mourinho is the greatest Blues manager. A quick glance at all the success he has brought the Blues will reveal that fact. And through a series of failures on the part of many, he is now the Manchester United manager, and Chelsea are once again rebuilding. They are trying to move into a new era that is separate from Mourinho’s second swing as manager. Antonio Conte has been tasked with this mission.

As of right now, Conte’s story is still a part of the era that Mourinho brought to Chelsea. He needs a firm break from it so that a new era can begin. What better setting than at the Bridge, the very place Mourinho launched himself into the elite?

Chelsea face Manchester United Sunday in what would normally be just another match against a title contender. But because of history, and because of Mourinho, it is anything but normal. If Conte’s team win, or win convincingly, over Mourinho’s United, it will be the start of a new era in West London.

It will be justification for moving on from the Portuguese’s command. It will show that the players are ready to move on from the “old guard”, ready to write their own histories.

If the Blues lose, Chelsea will remain in a transitive state between the old and the new. It will make all involved question what is the next step. Conte’s version will ponder the future as Mourinho’s United begin a new era. The club will struggle while waiting for the next chance to make that leap.

This is the best available chance for Chelsea to escape from the long shadow that Mourinho casts. This fixture is worth more than three points. It is worth a fresh start for the club, led by Conte. The squad must prove who they are on Sunday, and forge their own history.