Community Shield Preview: Chelsea - Manchester United

Chelsea and Manchester United meet in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday hoping to collect silverware in their first game of the season.

The Blues secured their first ever Double last season when an emphatic 8-0 win over Wigan Athletic won them the league title for the first time in four years, before a 1-0 victory against Portsmouth at Wembley saw them win the FA Cup for the second successive year.

Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side will be looking to emulate their achievements of the season before last, when they won the Premier League to complete a hat-trick of titles. Last season saw them win the League Cup and finish runners-up to Chelsea in the Premier League, so they will be determined to go at least one better than that. Their task may prove to be more difficult this season, though, as rivals Manchester City have strengthened over the summer and are ready to launch a genuine title challenge.

Both sides have had an indifferent run-up to the new season with players joining up at different times due to their World Cup commitments, but both Carlo Ancelotti and Ferguson have added new players to their squads.

Chelsea have brought in Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool for a fee believed to be in the region of £6 million, and are expected to complete the £18m signing of Benfica’s Ramires in the next few days, while United have signed youngsters Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez for undisclosed fees.

Ancelotti’s side have had a poor pre-season results wise. A 1-0 win over Crystal Palace has been followed up by three consecutive defeats away to Ajax, Frankfurt and Hamburg, prompting criticism of Ross Turnbull, Hilario and John Terry for defensive errors made in these games.

Manchester United began their pre-season with a tour of America where they beat Celtic, Philadelphia Union and the MLS All-Stars, but losses to Kansas City Wizards and Guadalajara prevented them from leaving the States unbeaten. A 7-1 win over a League of Ireland XI in midweek sends the Red Devils into Sunday’s clash on form and they will be looking to get one over on the Blues, who beat them on penalties at Wembley in last season’s Community Shield.

FORM GUIDE


Chelsea and Manchester United Preseason Results

Hamburg 2-1 Chelsea
League of Ireland XI 1-7 Manchester United
Frankfurt 2-1 Chelsea
Guadalajara 3-2 Manchester United
Ajax 3-1 Chelsea
MLS All-Stars 2-5 Manchester United
Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea
Kansas City Wizards 2-1 Manchester United
Chelsea 1-0 Portsmouth
Philadelphia Union 0-1 Manchester United
TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

Petr Cech will miss the start of the season with a calf injury so Hilario will take his place ahead of Ross Turnbull.

Didier Drogba has to settle for a place on the bench, while Alex (calf) and Jose Boswingwa (knee) are ruled out.

Carlo Ancelotti has named his starting line-up and has stuck with the same 10 outfield players who began the 2-1 loss to Hamburg on Wednesday.

Confirmed starting XI: Hilario; Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel, Lampard; Kalou, Anelka, Malouda.

Manchester United

England captain Rio Ferdinand is again missing with the knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup.

Brazilian duo Rafael da Silva and Fabio da Silva will also miss the game through illness, while Michael Carrick (ankle) has been ruled out for the first two weeks of the season.

Sir Alex, who has confirmed that Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney will play 45 minutes each, has given Patrice Evra an extra week off following his exploits with France at the World Cup.

Possible starting XI: Van der Sar; Neville, Vidic, Evans, O’Shea; Valencia, Fletcher, Scholes, Park; Owen, Berbatov.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chelsea

Didier Drogba will undoubtedly play a major role for the Blues this season, and could make the difference this Sunday once again - as he has done so often. The Ivorian enjoyed his best season at Stamford Bridge last season, netting 37 times throughout the campaign on his way to winning the Premier League Golden Boot. Although the Ivorian is starting on the bench, don’t put it past him to be the match-winner.

Manchester United

The Red Devils’ key man against Chelsea could be new signing Javier Hernandez. The 22-year-old starred for Mexico at this summer’s World Cup and has already caught the eye of the United faithful, scoring on his debut after coming on as a substitute against the MLS All-Stars. Sir Alex has a tendency to start the players who did so well for him in the previous season in these kind of games, but the Mexican will be desperate to make an impact if called upon from the bench.

PREDICTION

Always a tough one to call with the season not yet underway. Difficult to go just on pre-season results so I’m going for a tight game with Chelsea to win narrowly. United are still without Rio Ferdinand which could prove to be the difference if Didier Drogba & Co can start the new cseason the way they ended the old one.

Clash of the TITANS

CHELSEA VS MANCHESTER UNITED

Old Trafford will face the much awaited " clash of the TITANS " today with the table toppers Manchester United and Chelsea playing against each other today afternoon. The match may turn out to be a Final in prospect of Premier League title hunt as the two teams are separated by just one point in the table.

Manchester United will not have the service of inform striker and the leading goal scorer Wein Rooney as he picked up an injury during the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. While Chelsea will feel much stronger as their main hit man Drogba came back to side after sidelined to last match with an injury.
Man Utd
Injured: Anderson (knee), Brown & Welbeck (both metatarsal), Owen (hamstring), Rooney (ankle)

Chelsea
Injured: Bosingwa, Essien & Ivanovic (all knee), Carvalho & A Cole (both ankle)

MATCH PREVIEW
April could prove to be the cruellest month, at least for Manchester United fans. The Red Devils could be without star man Wayne Rooney for three crucial weeks after he damaged ankle ligaments in Tuesday's Champions League loss at Bayern Munich.

Wayne Rooney has had a fantastic season but his injury could be an advantage for us
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti

Rooney now faces an anxious wait to see if United's pursuit of Premier League and Champions League glory falters in his absence.
While Sir Alex Ferguson has lost his biggest goal threat, the headache for Carlo Ancelotti is how to find room for both of his front-line strikers. Perversely, Chelsea have produced some of their best performances without leading scorer Didier Drogba. His absence allows Nicolas Anelka to play a more advanced role, which in turn gives Frank Lampard more space in midfield.
Drogba was not involved in either of the Blues' seven-goal victories this season (against Aston Villa and Sunderland). Chelsea also had few problems coping without him during the Africa Cup of Nations, winning all five of their league and cup games in January. But with 10 goals in his last eight league games, dropping Drogba is not an option.
Ancelotti may feel now is a good time to visit Old Trafford, scene of his win in the 2003 Champions League final with AC Milan. The Red Devils have lost three of the four league games that have followed European away games this season.
The Italian, who has won five of his last six meetings with Sir Alex Ferguson, says Rooney's injury is a boost to Chelsea's title hopes, but he knows better than most that United will fight to the finish. Ancelotti was the Juventus coach when the Red Devils famously clawed back a two-goal deficit in Turin to reach the 1999 Champions League final.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
• Chelsea and Man United have met 35 times in the Premier League, with the Blues winning 11, the Red Devils 10 and 14 games drawn.
• Manchester United are unbeaten in their last four home league games against Chelsea, winning three of those. The Blues' last win at Old Trafford was 3-1 on 10 May 2005.

• The Red Devils have won nine of their last 11 league games, scoring 30 goals in the process. The 3-1 loss at Everton is their only defeat in 14 top-flight games.
• Manchester United have won their last nine league games without Wayne Rooney, a run stretching back to December 2008.
• The Red Devils have conceded only nine league goals in 16 league games at Old Trafford this season. No Premier League club has a better defensive record on home soil.
• Manchester United have benefited from 11 own goals in this season's Premier League.
Chelsea
• The Blues have netted 82 goals in 32 league games, the highest tally in England.
• Chelsea have won their last five league matches against 'Big Four' clubs, keeping clean sheets in the last four of those victories.
• Didier Drogba has scored 10 goals in eight league matches since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Man Utd
Rooney: 34 goals (26 league);
Berbatov: 12 goals (12 league)

Chelsea
Drogba: 30 goals (24 league); Lampard: 21 goals (17 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistant referees: Simon Beck & Stephen Child
Fourth official: Chris Foy

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Man Utd (W4-0 v Bolton, a): Van der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Fletcher (Gibson 80), Scholes (Carrick 74), Valencia, Giggs (Macheda 84), Nani, Berbatov. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Park, Rafael Da Silva, De Laet.

Chelsea (W7-1 v Aston Villa, h): Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Zhirkov (Van Aanholt 76), Deco (Ballack 72), Mikel, Lampard, Joe Cole (Kalou 76), Anelka, Malouda. Subs not used: Turnbull, Drogba, Sturridge, Bruma.

MOST RECENT MEETING
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd (8 November 2009)
Chelsea scorer: Terry 76

Chelsea vs West Ham Prematch review

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Saturday, 13 March 2010 Kick-off: 1500 GMT

TEAM NEWS
Goalkeeper Ross Turnbull will make his league debut for Chelsea as Hilario is sidelined with an abductor muscle injury.
Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack return after one-match bans, while Yuri Zhirkov has recovered from a calf strain.
West Ham welcome back Benni McCarthy and Danny Gabbidon after injuries.
But full backs Julien Faubert and Herita Ilunga are not fit for the trip across London.
Chelsea
Injured: Bosingwa & Essien (both knee), Carvalho (hamstring), Cech (calf), A Cole (ankle)

West Ham
Suspended: Da Costa
Injured: Boa Morte & Hines (both knee), Davenport (leg), Faubert (hamstring), Ilunga (tendon), Noble (arm)
MATCH PREVIEW
In 1996, new Parma manager Carlo Ancelotti decided that the unique talents of Gianfranco Zola did not fit into his system and sold the diminutive striker to Chelsea, thus setting in motion the process that led to Zola becoming a Blues legend.

Last year we got a point in both games, so you never know what is going to happen... We are not going there already beaten, because I know that football can give you a surprise
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola
On Saturday the Italian returns to Stamford Bridge desperate for a result that would seriously damage his former club's title ambitions, and boost his own side's stuttering survival bid.
Zola's side hover just three points outside the drop zone and suffered a morale-sapping defeat at home to relegation rivals Bolton last time out. They follow up Saturday's trip to Chelsea with another London derby at Arsenal - a daunting prospect for a side who haven't won away from home since the opening day of the season.
Chelsea's hopes of a first Premier League title since 2006 have been hit by two defeats in their last three league outings amid question marks over team-morale in the wake of several high-profile scandals.
Ancelotti's side go into Saturday's game trailing leaders Manchester United by two points, but will take heart from a 10-match unbeaten run against their east London rivals.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham have not beaten Chelsea in any of their last 10 meetings in all competitions (D2, L8). Their last win came in May 2003, with their last victory at Stamford Bridge coming a year earlier in September 2002.
• In the last 10 Premier League meetings with the Blues, West Ham have failed to score more than one goal.
Chelsea
• Chelsea have not lost back-to-back Premier League games since May 2006.
• Didier Drogba has scored 10 goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances.
• If the Blues concede a goal, they will have shipped more goals already than in any full season since 2003-04.
• Nicolas Anelka turns 31 on Sunday.
West Ham
• The Hammers have not won any of their last eight Premier League London derbies.
• They have only earned one point after conceding the first goal this season, losing 12 times and drawing once. They last came from behind to win a league match in December 2008, beating Stoke 2-1.
• Along with Bolton, West Ham and Chelsea have scored the most goals from set pieces this season (20).
LEADING GOALSCORERS

Chelsea
Drogba: 25 goals (19 league); Lampard: 16 goals (12 league)

West Ham
Cole: 9 goals (9 league); Diamanti: 8 goals (7 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Assistant referees: Stephen Child & Rob Lewis
Fourth official: Stuart Attwell
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Chelsea (L2-4 v Man City, h): Hilario, Ivanovic, Carvalho (Kalou 69), Terry, Lampard, J Cole (Sturridge 60), Mikel (Belletti), Ballack, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Ferreira, Alex, Matic.
West Ham (L1-2 v Bolton, h): Green, Faubert (Dyer 47), Tomkins, Upson, Spector, Behrami, Parker, Kovac (Stanislas 75), Diamanti, Cole, Franco (Mido 67). Subs Not Used: Stech, Ilan, Da Costa, Daprela.
MOST RECENT MEETING
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea (20 December 2009)

Prematch Review : Chelsea vs Burnley

Chelsea will face Burnley on Saturday in an away match to make the grip firm on table. Chelsea being played 22 matches is at the top of the table with 51 points. Chelsea has a golden opertunity on Saturday to increase the point difference with Manchester United and Arsenal.

Chelsea has been under excellent form this season under the new manager Ancelotti. The Blues have shown alot of character and has been in fantastic form last two matches defeating Sunderland 7-2 and Birmingham City 3-0 . And the return of their star striker Drogba after the African nations cup will give definitely a boost.
Burnley have failed to win in the league since October but their home form does remain their saving grace - at Turf Moor they have only lost once and leaked just nine goals, a defensive record that is only marginally worse than Chelsea’s (lost none and conceded eight) at Stamford Bridge.
It’s been over two decades since Chelsea last made a league trip to Turf Moor; back in the old Second Division in 1983, they came away with a 2-1 win. The Clarets will be hoping they can pull off something of a shock against the in-form Blues this time around as they attempt to stave off the looming threat of relegation under new boss Brian Laws.

Key Players ::

* Drogba :
The super striker has came back after the African Nations. He can be a real danger when he is in mood.

* Lampard :
Rated as the best attacking midfielder in the world , the English international is in real good form recently. He netted the ball twice against Birmingham at Stamford bridge.Burnley will have to sweat alot to keep knuckles on him.

Prematch Review : Chelsea vs Birmingham City

Chelsea will have to put on a high class performance against an inform Birmingham City to stay in the title hunt and claim their first spot in table. Chelsea has the best side in premier league till now , but as of now they are third in the league tables due to the less number of matches they played compared to Man U and Arsenal who posses the first and second places.
Chelsea has a mental edge as they have thrashed Sunderland 7-2 in the last home match and have won 10 out of 11 home matches this season. More over their star player Drogba has been back to side after African Nations Cup. While Birmingham City is in best of their form for last few weeks. They haven't lost a single game in last 15 matches. So Chelsea can expect a real hard time to overcome them.

A win is necessary for Chelsea who are yet to claim a EPL cup after Mourinho has left the club in 2006. So far this season they have shown real character under the new coach Ancelotti and having two games in hand compared to Man U , the blues can't imagine anything other than a win here at Stamford bridge.

Key Players
---------------

** Anelka
As Drogba will not be playing the match , the main hitman for Chelsea will be the inform French striker Anelka. He has been in the best of his form through out the season and has netted 11 times till now. Chelsea expect a few of them from him in this match also.

** Joe Hart
The English shot stopper has been in good form this season. He has to maintain it if Birmingham City wants to put some pressure on The Blues.