The Pride of London
Fansided

Chelsea: Three key clashes as Manchester United comes to town

By Gabe Henderson

Chelsea's French goalkeeper Edouard Mendy plays during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on October 24, 2020. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's French goalkeeper Edouard Mendy plays during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on October 24, 2020. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United and Thomas Tuchel, Manager of PSG stand on the touchline during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford on February 12, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United and Thomas Tuchel, Manager of PSG stand on the touchline during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford on February 12, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

Chelsea continues its seemingly impossible run of matches as Manchester United comes to town for a Sunday afternoon showdown. The Blues and Red Devils are separated by six points in the table, so this contest will have a significant impact in the grand scheme of things. There are 13 games left in the Premier League season and as Chelsea heads down the homestretch, the top four is in sight. A victory in this contest would go a long way in ensuring the Blues have a spot in next year’s Champions League, but one never knows what to expect when these two sides get together.

Here are three key clashes that may very well decide which club walks away with three points:

1. Thomas Tuchel vs. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

This match marks the first time Thomas Tuchel takes on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Man United in the blue of Chelsea, but this is a storied rivalry between the two managers. Solskjaer has been in charge of the Red Devils each time they have met Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League over the last three years, when Tuchel managed the Parisians.

Solskjaer controversially eliminated Tuchel’s PSG from the UCL in 2019 after a last second penalty was awarded to the English side. The two-legged tie ended 3-3, but the Red Devils were through on away goals. The history does not end there though. Tuchel’s side got its revenge when it played a hand in demoting United down to the Europa League a few months ago. Tuchel lost the first meeting between the two in the group stage before going on an impressive streak to storm back and win the group. Overall, the two managers are separated by the thinnest of margins head-to-head. Across four games, the series has been split, but Tuchel’s teams have scored seven goals and conceded just six.

Tuchel and Solskjaer now square off once again, this time with the lights just as bright as previous encounters. The former has more to lose though; a loss would dig the Blues into a deeper hole and knock them further outside the top four. Meanwhile, a loss for Solskjaer would show the Norwegian that his side may not be as securely in the top four as he would like. Regardless, these two individuals are no strangers to the other’s tactics. Tuchel’s team swap makes for an interesting storyline, and depending on how you look at it, could possibly mean he has the upper hand. It’s going to be an incredible battle of two intelligent football managers no matter how you spin it.

Home/Premier League