Chelsea must be extra careful this weekend as Manchester United are nearing their boiling point. The Blues will need to be wary of a potential onslaught.
Chelsea’s next game on the list comes on Sunday when they travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United. While the Blues are eyeing a victory against an inconsistent United side, they must be wary of Jose Mourinho’s men. The Red Devils have missed a slew of chances throughout the season and they have paid the price. However, their frustration may just all be released in one performance.
United’s game against Anderlecht on Thursday night typified their season. Mourinho’s men dominated the game from start to finish, controlling the ball and the tempo. Furthermore, they created several chances to kill the game once they went 1-0 up.
They didn’t apply the finishing touch, though. The likes of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed one-on-ones or misplaced an easy final ball. Anderlecht then seized their sole opportunity as the clock wound down and grabbed a draw.
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After trying to defend his players, Mourinho has lost patience in recent weeks. He has called out several members of his squad for their disappointing performances. Following the Anderlecht game, he praised his defence but criticised those further up the field for not killing the game off.
"In my poor English, I cannot find a better word than sloppy. You have to play more seriously.Put the performance of two or three of our attacking players together and you squeeze not much juice out of it. Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Anthony Martial – they were very similar. – via BBC Sport"
While some Chelsea fans will view Sunday’s clash as a very real chance to take three points and inch closer to the title, it may not be so simple. The difference between United being fifth and United challenging for the title has been finishing. Some of the world’s finest players have inexplicably been unable to find the back of the net.
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This could come to a head on Sunday, when everything clicks. By all rights, the Red Devils should be alongside the Blues and the pundits should be praising them for an attacking, attractive style of football. However, scuffed shots and bizarre decisions in the moment have changed the narrative.
With United frustration palpable (Carrick cut an equally angry figure during his post-match interview), it appears that it is only a matter of time before they absolutely thump someone.
Chelsea should not be that team; the Blues are too organised to be dismantled on a normal day. However, if they swan into the game taking United lightly, there could be a significant shock to the system. The season could feasibly be thrown into turmoil.
Hence, Antonio Conte must ensure his players are focused and prepared to face a Ferguson-era United team. The Red Devils have all the tools to construct a dominant machine, they have just temporarily misplaced one nut.