This time yesterday Chelsea and Man Utd were heading onto the pitch for the second half at Stamford Bridge. Forty-five minutes later, a slightly anti-climatic encounter was over and a one nil win for Ancelotti’s men represented their most significant – if below par - display of the season.
Manchester United fans are choosing to take an awful lot of positives from the fact that their below strength side managed to play so well. Many are convinced that, based on that display, they are in good shape for the rest of the season. They’ll certainly be up there – of course they will. But I on the other hand think it works both ways: Chelsea played poorly against a slightly under-strength United side performing out of its skin, and still won.
Chelsea and United fans will disagree about plenty of aspects of yesterday’s game, but here are the things I took about each of the sides from the encounter:
Chelsea
A familiar grit and determination
Aston Villa and Wigan may disagree, but Ancelotti’s Chelsea has some similarities with that of Mourinho’s. Patient, disciplined, confident and tough to break down are expressions that could equally be said of Chelsea in November 2006 as in 2009. Pretty passing football works to a point, but the Chelsea we saw yesterday – full of those Mourinho-esque qualities – is the sort of side that can win the title.
Deco isn’t up to it
The Portuguese looked good against Bolton and almost had me convinced. But against Man Utd he reminded me of why I came to think that he wasn’t up to it last season, and probably why Hiddink wouldn’t pick him: against better sides who give him less time on the ball he goes missing. All game he completed only 26 passes and, with minimal ability or willingness to make passes or interceptions, the side were carrying him.
Ivanovic is much improved
Trusty Ivanovic is no Bosingwa – he’s not going to make roving, high paced runs down the right flank for 90 minutes. But he is…well…trusty. As a reserve, whether at centre half or right back, he’s an excellent option to be able to call upon and did a pretty good job in attack against United too, considering. Did he miss a header yesterday?
We’re not Barcelona
Top of the league? Check. Five points clear? Check? Best defence in the league and second highest scorers? Check. Many fans and a handful of the papers naively expected Chelsea to walk all over Man Utd yesterday, but a disciplined, containing performance from Man Utd put paid to some of the as yet unjustified hyperbole. A slick one-touch side capable of playing silky football isn’t born in three months: Chelsea aren’t Barcelona. We shouldn’t be ashamed of the fact that, whilst sometimes our ‘A’ game hasn’t always fired on all cylinders, it’s Chelsea’s superior plan B, C and D that’s made the side successful.
Man Utd
A one man team?
For the last two seasons, Man Utd were probably a one man team. Yesterday, they looked like a one man team again. Before the season started I suggested that, if Berbatov could up his game, he was the one that could make the difference for a re-jigged Utd. That doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. Now that Rooney has been given the freedom to play upfront however, the ex-Evertonian is in a position to make the difference himself. If Utd want to retain the title, he might just have to.
Less confident
It struck me that last year’s Man Utd – with Ronaldo – would never have come to Stamford Bridge with such a defensive mindset. And injuries probably aren’t to blame: last year’s Man Utd that visited SW6 had injuries too, with Jonny Evans doing well at the back in one of his first appearances in the senior team. How much less confident is Ferguson in his team’s ability to attack the biggest sides and win? Despite their marginally superior possession, Utd’s midfield lacked dynamism and incisiveness.
Strength and depth at the back
Jonny Evans’ tackle on Drogba was pretty appalling, but you have to give him some credit. It’s uncommon that someone of his age can be so accomplished at centre half and – albeit with a trio of holding midfielders in front of them – United’s back four wasn’t regularly troubled by Chelsea yesterday. Regardless of Ferdinand’s declining form and Vidic’s occasional injuries, United still have one of the best defences in the league.
They don’t like losing
We saw a little of the old Man Utd yesterday. Chelsea are certainly not whiter than white in this respect, but United’s players shouted, screamed, swore and kicked their way through the last twenty minutes of the game. I’m just speculating, but they haven’t experienced too much pressure over the last three years: maybe, without Ronaldo to bail them out and with Chelsea and Arsenal now setting the pace, Ferguson and his players suddenly foresee a much more difficult title chase.
A couple of time I felt if Rooney had done a better job passing the ball ManU would have scored. There was one clear chance in the first half where all he had to do was flick it to Anderson and they would have scored. Exclusive of those chances however United lack the scoring threat without Ronaldo. If Rooney was to get hurt I am not sure they would score at all.
It was a very tense game to watch and in reality it was a very scrappy game. Sometimes winning ugly is a good sign though as you pointed out.
I also think Deco is not doing well. I thought Ancelotti waited too long to sub Cole in for him. If we are to pick up anyone in the January window I hope it is someone that can play the top of the diamond. Kaka played that position beautifully for Ancelotti in Milan and we need someone to play it for us now.
Posted by: Michael Hepp | 09 November 2009 at 17:40
Well here's one thing that this game taught me about betting on sports matches: don't do it from the Netherlands!
If you placed a bet on this game then check out this article from the Right2Bet campaign - http://bit.ly/eIw9r - it's an analysis of how much money you could have lost even if you WON your bet, because of EU law stopping people getting the best odds on sports betting... sign the Right2Bet petition if you agree that this is crazy!
Posted by: Jon Bee | 10 November 2009 at 11:14