FA Cup Quarter-final

Chelsea 1:0 Manchester United

Stamford Bridge

Kick-off
Mon, 13 March 2017 @ 7:45pm GMT
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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    I fancy us. We'll shut up shop and keep it tight at the back and our attacks will come from hoofing it up to Fellaini, who I think will surprise a lot of people tonight. He can be really good in this role, he once single handedly tore United apart in this role. With him knocking it down to the likes of Mata, Mkhitaryan and some good off the ball runs from Lingard, we'll find a way to nick a 0-1 win.

    It will be a Mourinho masterclass.
     
    Jacko21 said:
    I can accept defeat, I just don't want a hiding. Particularly at this stage of the season.

    That being said, cup football always has a different feel about, so expect the unexpected.

    Keep it tight, bypass the midfield and nullify the counter attack.
    Click to expand...
    That's how I feel. Obviously want us to win but if we lose a narrow 1-0 I won't be too sad. If we get pasted like last time though that'll get embarrassing.
     
    GDaly95 said:
    I fancy us. We'll shut up shop and keep it tight at the back and our attacks will come from hoofing it up to Fellaini, who I think will surprise a lot of people tonight. He can be really good in this role, he once single handedly tore United apart in this role. With him knocking it down to the likes of Mata, Mkhitaryan and some good off the ball runs from Lingard, we'll find a way to nick a 0-1 win.

    It will be a Mourinho masterclass.
    Click to expand...

    Love your confidence!
     
    Many have predicted line-ups with Mata playing RW. Is it really a good idea to play Mata on the same wing as Hazard and Alonso? Just look at what happened in the efl final. Valencia will be left all alone to deal with them when Mata drifts inside. We should either switch to a back 3 this game or start Lingard or Young on the right instead. Even if Mata plays, he should play as No.10 or a false 9.

    My line-up would be

    DDG
    Bailly Smalling Rojo
    Valencia Herrera Carrick Pogba Shaw
    Mkhi
    Fellaini
    ​
    But if we are sticking with 433, it would be

    DDG
    Valencia Bailly Smalling Shaw
    Carrick
    Herrera Pogba
    Young Fellaini Mkhi​
     
    ---------------de Gea
    ----Bailly----Smalling---Rojo
    Tony-----------------------Shaw
    --------Ander
    -----------Fellaini------Pogba
    ---Mata
    ---------------Micky

    Requiring standout performances from the midfield 3 and the wing backs.
     
    From MEN:

    Jose Mourinho has confirmed that he will prioritise the Europa League over the FA Cup.

    Manchester United face Chelsea in the quarter finals of the Cup on Monday night, with the chance to join Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham in the last four.

    But with the second leg of their round of 16 Europa League tie with Rostov to come on Thursday, Mourinho has hinted he could name a weakened side at Stamford Bridge.

    He is already without the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic and injured Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial .

    Marcus Rashford is another doubt with illness - but there are suggestions the England striker could be a surprise inclusion against Chelsea.

    But Mourinho has made it clear that securing Champions League football next season is a must - which means the Cup could prove too much of a distraction.

    “For me it’s just a game that comes in the wrong moment for us,” said the United manager. “Because the Europa League is a competition that can give us a Champions League spot, and the FA Cup, it isn’t.

    "So the Europa League is more important than the FA Cup for us."

    Mourinho still hopes to secure a top four finish this season.

    But despite a run of only one defeat in 28 games in all competitions they remain sixth in the Premier League - six points adrift of fourth placed Liverpool, albeit with two games in hand.

    The mounting number of rearranged fixtures - including the Manchester derby - will make for a potentially hectic run-in, especially if United continue to fight on three fronts.

    Mourinho is increasingly wary of the advantage of top four rivals Liverpool and Arsenal, who are not involved in Europe.

    “The boys are doing really well, but we have opponents in different circumstances to us,” he said. “Arsenal now are out of the Champion League, Chelsea without playing European competition, Liverpool not playing in European competition and we are in this run.

    “We have Rostov on Thursday, then we have Middlesbrough on the Sunday at 12:15. It’s very difficult for the boys, but these are the boys.

    “Even in a match where it is impossible to play, we don’t play, we fight.”
     
    Imagine if we actually win this? :eek:
    I just can't see it though but if we do, then I believe the old Mourinho is back.
     
    I think in a bizarre way this might turn out to be a good thing.

    The pressure is almost entirely off. We were the outsiders before this and now we don't have a hope in hell if you listen to anyone. Jose will be free to pick a bus parking tactic without being criticised. I still give us a decent chance to make it.

    Even if we do end up losing, the impact on morale is not gonna be the same as playing a full strength team and getting thumped. We'll write it off as one of these things that happen when all your strikers are off and move on.

    I know it sounds like a loser's approach to the game, but like I said I still expect us to give them a good game
     
    I was thinking maybe we'd go three at the back again, but it's hard to look past playing a midfield three given our list of missing offensive players.

    I'm convinced that De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Bailly, Herrera, Pogba and Mkhitaryan play. Probably Shaw as well, with at least one of Carrick/Fellaini and two from Mata/Lingard/Young.

    De Gea
    Valencia Smalling Bailly Shaw
    Herrera Fellaini Pogba
    Mata Mkhitaryan Lingard
    ---
    Romero; Jones, Rojo, Blind; Schweinsteiger, Carrick, Young​

    Hopefully it's true that Rashford had travelled. I actually reckon we'll win now that we are even more up against it.
     
    I think we will lose tonight with good reason but I hope that José doesn't set up to play the awful pragmatic stifle job we know he can do. If it's likely that we may lose, at least make it exciting, a little less predictable. Some poster was calling him a coward the other day, and I hope the man takes some disks today. Think outside the box José
     
    I'd like Young at RB and push up Valencia to RW doubling up on Hazard.

    Shaw/Blind and Mkhi on the left.

    Fellaini up top with Pogba in behind. 4-4-1-1

    Carrick and Herrera in the middle.

    Mata and Lingard on the bench.

    Maybe Bailly over Smalling too.
     
    MannyB said:
    I want us to try a strikerless system against Chelsea's back three with a free role and lots of movement from our front three. Carrick and Herrera providing the platform to do it.

    De Gea
    Valencia Bailly Smalling Rojo
    Herrera Carrick Pogba
    Mata Mkhi Lingard​
    Click to expand...
    I like
     
    pilky02 said:
    I hope we play the back 4 that got whooped 4-0, they either stand up and be counted tonight or get shipped off in the Summer.
    Click to expand...

    That would be reckless, though.
    For example, I wouldn't put Smalling in there. In the 4-0 encounter Smalling was the worst defender I have seen ever by a MUFC player. On that day he was captain, too and that night he would not have slept well.
    If he has a repeat, it could mentally scar him.
    Bailly was also present during that hammering - he was really bad that day.
     
    dichinero said:
    I think we will lose tonight with good reason but I hope that José doesn't set up to play the awful pragmatic stifle job we know he can do. If it's likely that we may lose, at least make it exciting, a little less predictable. Some poster was calling him a coward the other day, and I hope the man takes some disks today. Think outside the box José
    Click to expand...

    I think playing an open game will make it very very predictable, we'll get hammered. Stifling them is the only way to make it UNpredictable.

    Jose has been playing attacking football pretty much all year with us. I think if in a crucial week of extenuating circumstances he shows a little pragmatism and goes defensive no one will hold it against him. Especially if we manage to get through.
     
    MadMike said:
    I think playing an open game will make it very very predictable, we'll get hammered. Stifling them is the only way to make it UNpredictable.

    Jose has been playing attacking football pretty much all year with us. I think if in a crucial week of extenuating circumstances he shows a little pragmatism and goes defensive no one will hold it against him. Especially if we manage to get through.
    Click to expand...

    Agreed. Jose did go with a very pragmatic side in Russia. Did a job. I see nothing wrong with it, these are one offs
     
    MadMike said:
    I think playing an open game will make it very very predictable, we'll get hammered. Stifling them is the only way to make it UNpredictable.

    Jose has been playing attacking football pretty much all year with us. I think if in a crucial week of extenuating circumstances he shows a little pragmatism and goes defensive no one will hold it against him. Especially if we manage to get through.
    Click to expand...


    There is still a chance to win, there are no guarantees in football. Sometimes the element of surprise is what is needed. José has been outwitted and outsmarted by managers with lesser personnel on paper, far too much for my liking. Injuries happen in football, playing against teams that have less games than you happens a lot, it's nothing new. A manager of José's experience should know this and not like he signed the contract not knowing this.

    Personally, I have little sympathy for such complaints as long as no rules are broken, and in it we have seen teams who are up against it still come out on top, however little the chance they had.

    If we lose, we lose but I'd prefer he had a proper go. Lumping it to Fellaini will be as predictable as it gets and that will very much play into Conte's hand. No risk, no reward
     
    If there's a game where Jose should be pragmatic it's this one. He doesn't owe any open game to anyone, especially to some deluded posters who call him a coward.
     
    0-0 in the 90 until we get tired in extra-time and they turn the screw to win it 2-0 comfortably.
     
    About Time for Pogba to show what stuff he is made of. Big players show their prowess in big matches. Against Liverpool, Pogba was the reason for our failure. This game will show whether he is a big game player or not. His long range efforts has been missing targets often. If one goes in today, we have a game.
     
    Probably given us a slight advantage now :wenger:. They wont have a clue how we will play.

    Fancy us to have lots of mobility and intricate passing. We are the holders so should just go for it. Rather lose having a go, than lose sitting back and trying to counter now and then. That said, I have a feeling we will nick this 1-2, similar game to Everton in the semi's last year.
     
    Wait what? Are Martial and Rashford injured all of a sudden? What happened?
     
    dichinero said:
    There is still a chance to win, there are no guarantees in football. Sometimes the element of surprise is what is needed. José has been outwitted and outsmarted by managers with lesser personnel on paper
    Click to expand...
    Like who?
     
    MannyB said:
    I want us to try a strikerless system against Chelsea's back three with a free role and lots of movement from our front three. Carrick and Herrera providing the platform to do it.

    De Gea
    Valencia Bailly Smalling Rojo
    Herrera Carrick Pogba
    Mata Mkhi Lingard​
    Click to expand...
    Would love to see this actually in our current situation.

    There seems little point in playing with a striker who isn't actually a striker. just play without any and play a boring game waiting for decent counter attacking chances, which is something we know Jose is willing to do. Just not sure sitting back and letting them attack us is a good idea, pedro's pace is pesky regardless of how many people you have in the box.

    This will either be a crazy game or we'll get completely battered. I'm excited for either, no shame in losing to an excellent team when you're in the situation we are right now as long as you have a go, not a lot we could do about it.
     
    Pogba needs a big performance tonight more than ever, I am wondering how United will line up, all depends whether Mourinho gives more weight to the FA Cup or Europa, with no strikers fit for tonight, would seem to be a toss-up between Fellaini or Mkhytarian up front, but who knows, I think Jose might have a trick or two up his sleeve. Rashford has apparently traveled to London so maybe there is a smokescreen regarding the issue of no strikers. We will see.
    I find it hard to make a case for United getting a result tonight, unless the team sent out put in a huge performance and upset the odds, it is the FA Cup after all. COYR.
    With all the players unavailable and the fact Chelsea are overwhelming favourites to win, Mourinho will be doubly keen to get a win tonight. Don't be surprised if he pulls something out of the bag.
     
    Turnip said:
    Would love to see this actually in our current situation.

    There seems little point in playing with a striker who isn't actually a striker. just play without any and play a boring game waiting for decent counter attacking chances, which is something we know Jose is willing to do. Just not sure sitting back and letting them attack us is a good idea, pedro's pace is pesky regardless of how many people you have in the box.

    This will either be a crazy game or we'll get completely battered. I'm excited for either, no shame in losing to an excellent team when you're in the situation we are right now as long as you have a go, not a lot we could do about it.
    Click to expand...

    That formation/personnel also has the advantage that it can easily switch to a back 3 with Valencia and Lingard as wing-backs, if needed
     
    Carrick will be just about useless if he plays, and trying to overload the middle is pretty useless in general against Chelsea, unless Fabregas starts for Matic. We need width against them.
     
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Man of the Match

Marcos Rojo image Marcos Rojo 49% of 598 votes

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Score Predictions

206,318,60
  • Man Utd win
  • Chelsea win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 17% Chelsea 2:0 Man Utd
  • 16% Chelsea 1:2 Man Utd
  • 15% Chelsea 2:1 Man Utd
  • 9% Chelsea 0:1 Man Utd
  • 7% Chelsea 3:0 Man Utd
  • 7% Chelsea 3:1 Man Utd
  • 7% Chelsea 1:1 Man Utd
  • 3% Chelsea 1:0 Man Utd
  • 3% Chelsea 0:2 Man Utd
  • 2% Chelsea 2:3 Man Utd
  • 2% Chelsea 0:0 Man Utd
  • 2% Chelsea 5:0 Man Utd
  • 2% Chelsea 0:5 Man Utd
  • 2% Chelsea 2:2 Man Utd
  • 2% Chelsea 4:0 Man Utd
  • 1% Chelsea 1:3 Man Utd
  • 1% Chelsea 0:4 Man Utd
  • 1% Chelsea 3:2 Man Utd
  • 1% Chelsea 4:1 Man Utd
  • 0% Chelsea 0:3 Man Utd
  • 0% Chelsea 5:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Chelsea 3:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Chelsea 2:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Chelsea 1:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Chelsea 4:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Chelsea 1:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Chelsea 5:1 Man Utd
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Match Stats

  1. Chelsea
  2. Man Utd
Possession
73% 27%
Shots
20 4
Shots on Target
5 1
Corners
10 2
Fouls
7 14

Referee

Michael Oliver

Man Utd Lineup

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