Andy's Tuesday tips - Man Utd to hold on
It's been a pretty mixed and eventful season for Wayne Rooney. It's included a hangover from the World Cup that resulted in a goal drought, a transfer request, a huge new contract and a two-match ban for swearing into a TV camera, the latter of course coming after he'd just completed a hat-trick in a one-man comeback away to West Ham.
They say that the very best players always save their best performances for the biggest stage and though that hasn't always been the case with Rooney, his goal away to Chelsea has put Manchester United in control of this tie. They'll be pretty confident that their home record will hold up and allow them to do what's needed to make the last four.
Even though Manchester United crashed out to Bayern Munich at this stage last season, it shouldn't be forgotten that they actually won the home tie 3-2.
They've won their last 12 matches in all competitions and we need to go back to a 1-1 draw in December against Valencia for the last time they didn't win a game at Old Trafford, and even that was pretty much a dead rubber. Whichever way you look at it, Chelsea really do have it all to do.
The temptation in a match like this, when you know you only need to draw to go through, is to be conservative. Try to keep things tight; don't make reckless tackles; don't do anything silly; don't take too many risks.
But Sir Alex Ferguson and this Manchester United team haven't won the trophies they've won by sitting back and trying to avoid defeats. And the Manchester United boss is too long in the tooth to risk playing for a 0-0 and ending up conceding a couple of late goals. I think they will be sensible, yet positive.
Chelsea are going through a bit of a patchy phase at the moment. Carlo Ancelotti is desperate for Fernando Torres to start scoring but his own drought continues and the Chelsea manager will have a big decision to make ahead of the second leg.
Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka understandably know each other better as a partnership but, on his day, Torres is the more dangerous player as an individual. He may of course go with all three but that would be a mighty risky thing to do away to Manchester United.
I'm looking forward to this match because the status of the tie means Chelsea have to be slightly more aggressive than usual and we'll get a more open game than we normally would if it was in the Premier League. I fancy Chelsea to make a really good fist of it but I think they'll just fall short.
Recommended Bets:
Back the draw at [3.4]
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Published: 12 Apr 2011
sammie (April 12, 2011 7:49 AM) said:
Chelsea will win this game by 3 goals to nil.. Torres has 2 goals to score and from there,it will be more goals for him.like ray wilkins said,torres need the ball all the time.lamps is too old,benayoun is still adapting and not time and age on his side,essien is out of form,malouda is finished,anelka is weak already drogba is tired,yuri is lazy and kalou is never mature,bosingwa should be flogged out,ferreira is old.we need total clear out in my opinion,win or no win,cause next season will be worse if we dont take heed now.hazard,aguero,hamsik or pastorer,william or neymar or sanchez,vanderweil,contrao and subotic.
Betfair Football (April 12, 2011 8:28 AM) said:
That's a fairly pessimistic view to have of a team you are backing to win 3-0 away to the Premier League leaders, sammie!
James McDonald (April 12, 2011 12:17 PM) said:
Dont think Chelsea's situation is as morbid as that. Anelka and Drogba are definetaly still a threat. However, with Ferguson's experience at the helm, I cant see Man Utd losing 3-0. Ferguson will be looking to counter and get the early goal to finish it. Man Utd 1-0 with Nani to score.
Jamie J (April 12, 2011 2:30 PM) said:
I'm going for the draw here, chelsea have no choice but to go for it, but man u at home will be too much of a hard nut to crack. I predict 1-1 tonight!
flops (April 12, 2011 2:40 PM) said:
MU to win by 2-1. MU will score with a Giggs cross to Hernandez, equalized before halftime by Torres and game set match by Fabio with a counter :P
flops (April 12, 2011 8:57 PM) said:
Ok...might have got the last 2 wrong but...i made me fine lil self a nice little profit from the scorecast :)
Betfair Football (April 13, 2011 7:25 AM) said:
Mightily impressive work there Mr flops!