Chelsea: Four key clashes in the FA Cup semifinal with Manchester United
By Varun Dani
3. Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud versus Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire
If there is one common lesson to be learnt from each of Chelsea’s meetings with United this season, it would be the lack of clinical finishing by the Blues. It is not that the players did not create any real chances during those games, but rather their inability to finish those that proved to be the difference. United took every chance they got while Chelsea spurred most opportunities.
Lampard will hope his team finishes off the chances it creates this time around, with the responsibility firmly placed on the shoulders of a young American hotshot and a grizzly French veteran.
Pulisic has been a different gravy since the restart. He’s put his injury struggles behind him and become Chelsea’s talisman, akin to a certain Belgian maestro before him. He’s at the heart of everything good for the Blues; winning set pieces, creating chances and taking them. The American’s movement on and off the ball has been the best (and sometimes the only) outlet for Chelsea’s offence.
The sticking point, however, has been that the team has become over reliant on the American (more Eden Hazard comparisons), a fact Solskjær will not be oblivious to. The United manager, to Chelsea’s misfortune, has arguably the best defensive full back at his disposal to quell the American storm in Wan-Bissaka.
Both players debuted for their respective clubs in the first game of the season, with Pulisic coming off the bench to try and change the game but instead being completely nullified by Wan-Bissaka. The American found no joy the second time around either, as the United full back came up top yet again. Those encounters, though, were before Lampard magically man managed Pulisic to make him the dangerous player he is today.
It will be fascinating to see whether the now settled and inform Pulisic overcomes his adversary at the third time of asking. Wan-Bissaka will be out to mark the American out of the game and Pulisic will need some form of support to find his feet in the game.
Enter Olivier Giroud.
The Frenchman, who was once called “the best target man in the world” by Hazard, has come in clutch for Chelsea ever since Lampard finally restored him to the line up in February. With six goals in eight league starts, Giroud’s potency in front of goal has kept Chelsea in the hunt for the elusive top four finish, especially with Abraham in the worst form of his career.
Giroud, however, is not revered for his goals. He is France’s starting striker because of the space he creates upfront and his brilliant link up play. He holds the key to bringing the likes of Pulisic, Mount and Willian in the game and indirectly helping Chelsea to finish off the game.
His opponent in Maguire will be a handful. The Englishman has already proved that he can be resolute in the back with his confident performance in the February installment of this fixture, as well as a threat from set pieces at the other end. He is by no means invincible though, as if Giroud can ruffle his feathers early on and unsettle the center back, the heart of United’s defense will open to a host of chances.
If Giroud can indeed do that, he and Pulisic can well end the day with goals to their names.