Man Utd 1-2 Chelsea: Go on and Win it Now Chels!!!
COME ON CHELSEA
By Since66
April 4 2010
When Mike Dean was appointed the man in charge for yesterday's top of the table clash everybody shrugged their shoulders and raised their eyebrows in expectance of a penalty giveaway like a closing down sale of your local high street store. You know what its like at Old Trafford, when a Red Devil subtly collapses inside the area like a falling leaf from a tree, the ref points to the spot!
It came as a big surprise when Park went tumbling inside Chelsea's area from a Zhirkov challenge and then Anelka was 'hipped' out of it by Neville in Utd's area that Dean kept his whistle firmly in his hands and waved play on.
After all this is the same referee who awarded a penalty last week when Blackburn's Martin Olsson fell over in Burnley's penalty area - perhaps the bad press of that mistake was playing on Dean's mind.
What was even a bigger surprise, the Assistant on the near side no more than a dozen yards away from the action, allowed substitute Didier to smash home Chelsea's winner clearly from an offside position.
Am I dreaming? Chelsea got a BIG decision, a three point decision, a decision that saw the Blues return to the summit of the Premiership two points clear with five games to go to which Sir Alex admitted after the game 'that Chelsea are clear favourites to win the title.'
The boss 'Anco' pulled out a surprise of his own when he announced the same starting line-up that bashed up Villa last weekend meaning Didier would have to warm his bum on the bench (little did we know how dramatic his entrance to the fray would be later on).
'Anco' said, "Drogba was not 100 per cent but I knew he was very important for this game. I preferred to play him at the end of the match when he would be fresh and he did well.
"It is not important to start the game. It is important to play in the game and play well.
"Anelka played 60 minutes, Didier 30 minutes. Maybe next time Didier can play 60 minutes and Nicolas 30 because they are both fantastic strikers."
In a game of very few chances, Joe Cole gave Chelsea the lead (he is coming back to his best and sort his contract out! ) with a sublime flick after Malouda skinned Utd's defence and powered in a low cross after 20 minutes in a first half that Chelsea dominated.
There were periods in the second-half when Chelsea looked jittery and nervous and had Utd scored, you wouldn't have been surprised but then came Dids contribution that sealed the points for the Blues... or so you thought.
Just like Chelsea (making life very difficult for themselves and us), Utd sub Macheda bundled in at the near post which was the start of a nervous, nailbiting last seven minutes plus four minutes of stoppage time and with Utd's appetite for scoring late goals especially at Old Trafford, it was definitely squeaky bum time especially when Berbatov found space in Chelsea's area, but his soft volley was cleanly held by Cech.
Chelsea held out and continued their excellent record at Old Trafford.
After 76 visits in all competitions, Chelsea have won 19 times, drawn 24 and have scored 74 goals.
NEXT UP WEMBLEY: ASTON VILLA, FA CUP SEMI-FINAL, SATURDAY 10TH APRIL K.O. 5PM.
Man Utd: Van der Saar, Neville (c), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher (Gibson 85), Scholes (Nani 71), Giggs, Park (Macheda 71), Valencia, Berbatov.
Goal: Macheda 80
Booked: Scholes 34, Neville 43, Fletcher 84
Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Terry (c), Zhirkov, Deco (Ballack 78), Mikel, Lampard, J Cole (Kalou 71), Anelka (Drogba 69), Malouda
Goals: J Cole 20, Drogba 78
Booked: Deco 69
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It does make me laugh how Sky and some sections of the media do their best to stir up outrage and injustice - they were quite happy to go on and on about Drogba´s obvious offside goal yet almost ignore their goal when the ball was clearly handballed - all he had to do was fall on top of it over the line and it would have been a try!
Very impressive first half - less so in the second when it annoyed and worried me the way we sat back waiting for them to tire more.
They definitely were tired after their CL game and Rooney´s absence along with the work-rate he provides definitely affected them (then again, no Essien, Ashley Cole, Bosingwa or Ivanovic didn´t do us any favours either).
It´s not done and dusted - there´s more ups and downs to come and points dropped by us the mancs and the Woolwich... Looking much better than it was a few weeks ago though.
And...
Pretty much everyone has said how good Joey´s goal was - they are right - but I don´t think many realise just HOW good that finish was - I´d put it up there with Franco´s against Norwich.
"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
I couldn't believe how much Chelsea controlled the game and I was waiting for Utd to have their spell and profit from it, but the pleasing aspect about Chelsea's performance was the 2nd goal being scored during Utd's time.
My nerves only started to shred when Utd scored, other than that I was completely comfortable throughout.
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The Chelsea fans were magnificent again like they always are away from home.
"Shall we sing a song for you" and i bet it sounded even better in 3D
How good was JC`s goal i was going mental when that went in.
You couldn't fault any off them out there they played as one.
Got to give credit to the manager for sticking with the same side that shredded Villa to pieces at the Bridge when i saw that Drogba wasn't starting i did think what is the manager doing surely you have to start with Drogs but how wrong i was.
Special mention to Malouda he has just blown me away this season he is up there for contender player of the year no question.
Oh i hope we can keep this up till the end of the season i know we can win all our remainder of games.
How lovely is it to be a Blues fan.
Ps There is still Mancs on their board saying that Macheda`s goal was not handball
OMG
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We have to give Ancelotti time. The real litmus test is next season when he will have a chance to show us what he can do with fresh signings and dare I say it, 1-2 of the kids that are coming through.
We really can´t keep changing managers every season. It´s not good for stability nor continuity. Fortunately ancelotti is young enough to actually change and re-build at Chelsea.
Hiddink was absolutely top-class though. If anything was to happen to Ancelotti I´d have him back like a shot.
Mind you, there´s a certain Portuguese bloke who I reckon, is champing at the bit to come back to the Bridge...
"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
Carlo is the man.
