FA Cup Preview: Chelsea vs Manchester United

Kick-off: 6 PM IST Stamford Bridge In the continuing power struggle of English football, Chelsea are currently diminishing. While they can boast of winning the Champions League last year, their hold on domestic silverware has wavered and their form has been in stark contrast to the teamsheet they boast. This season in particular has been a glaring example of what mismanagement at the top can do to a club that was looking like the new English superpower a few years ago — and the slide needs to stop. They couldn’t defend their European title, and defending the FA cup could be the lift the club needs. A win in the FA Cup semifinal against Manchester United today will, to a considerable extent, ease the worries. Every Chelsea fan knows that it will have the effect of a painkiller, but every Chelsea fan will gladly take a painkiller now rather than get knocked out by their rivals. [caption id=“attachment_681046” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] In the continuing power struggle of English football, Chelsea are currently diminishing. Getty Images[/caption] The Blues are still in Europe but they’ve had to tread on glass — even in the Europa League. Trickier ties await them and the fan unrest under Rafael Benitez is plain to see. While Benitez will be dying to get one over his old adversary, Alex Ferguson will probably be taking things easy now. United have virtually secured the title and are still in with a chance to win the FA Cup. Here’s a quick preview as English football’s most fierce modern rivalry resumes: HISTORY Chelsea have played Manchester United eleven times in the FA Cup. The Red Devils have won eight of these, while Chelsea have won two. Chelsea won the last time the two teams met here — in the final of the 2007 FA Cup. The last time the two teams met in the sixth round, the match went into a replay (just like this time). It was during United’s treble winning 1998/99 season. However, the last time these two teams met in the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge, United were the victorious side. The last seven meetings between these sides in all competitions have seen 34 goals scored. FORM  Chelsea: L-D-W-W-L (all competitions) They overturned a first leg 0-1 loss to Steaua Bucharest to advance in the Europa League after beating them 3-1 in the return leg. They then beat West Ham 2-0 in the EPL, courtesy of Frank Lampard’s 200th goal, but then lost to Southampton in their latest fixture. Manchester United: W**-**L-D-W-W (all competitions) Getting knocked out against Real Madrid in controversial style must have pumped up Ferguson to win whatever else is left this season. The FA Cup will certainly be high on the agenda. In the league this past few weeks, United have been getting all the points. Their latest match was a 1-0 win over Sunderland. DID YOU KNOW? - Javier Hernandez has scored in six of the last seven meetings between the clubs. El Destroyer. - Chelsea have only lost one of their last 39 FA Cup games outright. - They are now unbeaten in 28 FA Cup games (excluding penalty shootouts), the longest ever run without defeat by a single side. Phenomenal. - Juan Mata has five goals and eight assists in 11 FA Cup games. - United have scored in each of their last 10 away FA Cup games, netting 26 in total. - The Blues have not lost an FA Cup game at Stamford Bridge since March 2003 (W20 D4) and have scored in each of their last 33. - Manchester United were the last team to prevent Chelsea from scoring in an FA Cup game at home, beating them 2-0 in a sixth round replay in 1999… and history oft repeats itself.