Manchester United vs Chelsea: Key Battles

As current Premier League champions Manchester United take on Chelsea in what is sure to be a match that might have consequences in this season’s title race, let’s take a look at the key battles that may define the outcome of this match.

Chelsea full-backs vs United wingers

Antonio Valencia will look to torment Chelsea full-backs

Manchester United are a team who are known to get plenty of crosses into the box in order to cause trouble for the opposition defence. The fact that they usually play with two strikers makes it harder to defend against them.

That’s where Chelsea’s full-backs will play a key role. They will have to be solid in defence and ensure that they don’t get beaten by United’s wingers. Additionally, Cole and Ivanovic/Azpilicueta will have to ensure that they aren’t able to get into good crossing positions.

Someone like Valencia is adept at getting that half a yard of space to get in a good cross and that space is something Cole will have to prevent him from getting. A lot of United’s attacking threat comes from their wide-men so if Chelsea can shut down that particular avenue for them, they will lose quite a bit of the bite they usually possess in attack.