Man United or not United?

Saturday lunch time match saw a strange sequence of events at Stamford Bridge. Starting with Alex Ferguson’s team selection. How can you leave Ronaldo out of a game that has such importance?? how can you play Darren Fletcher in the middle of the park?? and how can you chose Silverstre playing his first permiership game of the season?? This bizarre team selection surely affected what was to follow. Ferguson approached this game in a negative manner, he appeared to be trying to playing for a draw but it has backfired. United didn’t not play with their usual style and great attacking flare. Nemanja Vidic picked up a bad injury when Drogba’s knee hit Vidic in the face. (Vidic should be fit for the game against Barcelona on Tuesday.) Rooney has picked up an injury, which is a recurrence of his previous injury (he should be fit for Tuesday also). 

The result will surely have affected united’s confidence who have only picked up 5 points in their last 4 games. They had a 5 point cushion, but now its down to goal difference and if Chelsea had beat Wigan it would have been very difficult for united to win the league. This added to Ferdinand accidentally catching a female steward, and the after match warm down, where Evra was supposedly involved in a brawl, does not bode well for united, and it shows signs that they are beginning to crack under the intense pressure.

On the back of that poor display the last thing Manchester United need is to play Barcelona who have rested their key players. However I feel that even though they have fallen short of late United will come good, they have enough experience, enough mental strength, and enough strength in depth to win this tie and to win the league.

United’s destiny is in their own hands. Yes they have a bad record against West Ham and West Ham did the double over them last year, but they were fighting for their own safety last year. This year they are playing for nothing. United’s difficult match will be at Wigan especially if Wigan need to get something out of the game to ensure their safety, and Wigan’s pitch is the worst in the Premier.

Chelsea on the other hand are flying high at the moment, they are getting results without playing well, they are in a good position against Liverpool and they will have Michael Essien back from suspension. Although Lampard is still a doubt for them, they have shown a great deal of resilience and tenacity in recent weeks.

However I still feel the United will win the league, but it will come down to the last game of the season. It is too little too late for Chelsea. The Champions League is up for grabs, Liverpool might surprise a few, and United should make it to Moscow. I would recommend 30 points on United to win the league at 1/3 with Betfair. If you open an account with Betfair today you will receive a free £25 bet.