Manchester United need to give a 90 minute performance on Sunday if they want any chance of winning the game. So far this season they have sparkled in patches but haven’t been able to give a consistently good performance for a whole game.
The defence is obviously still a concern and Manchester United really need to tighten up that area of the park. But the portents are good and they seem to be going in the right direction. Although they drew 2-2 with West Brom earlier in the week it was two individual errors which cost them rather than regular mistakes by the back line.
And Manchester United fans will be praying that winger Angel di Maria is fully fit because he will be the most important player on Sunday. He took a knock to the thigh on Monday but recent reports suggest he will be okay for the fixture against the league leaders. Louis van Gaal confirmed that the player will be fine for Chelsea in his press conference on Friday afternoon.
Three goals and four assists in seven appearances so far for Manchester United tell you that this guy makes a key contribution in every game that he plays. And in a game which should be pretty tight the Argentinian’s creative contribution will be vital.
Di Maria quite simply speeds up the play and gets behind opposition defences frequently. Penetration, or a lack of, was a massive problem for Manchester United last season and this has been remedied to a great extent by the sensational winger.
Instead of simply stroking the ball around in front of the opposition defence Manchester United are now picking forward passes with much more regularity and getting in behind the defence more quickly and incisively.
Without Di Maria on the park Chelsea will be far less troubled as Manchester United don’t have Wayne Rooney’s creativity and all the rest of the pacey players are defenders.
With Di Maria and Falcao playing we really believe that Manchester United have a good chance of winning this game on Sunday. Without those two they might well draw a blank.
Let’s see Di Maria’s already sublime highlights for Manchester United. United fans: can you win without Angel?
Bob
Oct 24, 2014 at 7:32 pm
De Gea – Rafael – Jones – Rojo – Shaw
Herrera – Blind – Fellani
Di Maria – Young — Falcao
4-3-3 — Young ( No Valencia ) to assist Rafael with Hazard and his crosses to Falcao could be vital
Fellani and Blind to deal with Oscar and Cesc
Herrera is a # 10 that will defend in midfield ensuring that Chelsea don’t dominate that area of the field
Di Maria will run Ivanovich into the ground and needs to be allowed to play as an out an out winger – either on right or left …
Falcao will cause the static Teryy nightmares and Cahill will be no better — he is a Chelsea killer
Waki Atem
Oct 24, 2014 at 8:35 pm
Di maria in action.
Obi
Oct 24, 2014 at 8:51 pm
Van gaal pls dnt play carrick and mata and januzai and van persie. Play.
De gea
rafael jones rojo shaw
felliani blind
herrera
young dimaria
falcao
makata
Oct 25, 2014 at 9:39 am
LVG line this way
de gea
shaw, rojo, jones, rafael
blind,herera,mata,di maria
falcao,rvp