Chelsea take on Manchester United in the latest installment of their long-standing Premier League rivalry on Sunday afternoon, although with both sides lower down the table than they would like. A few players have reached that level again, and we have started winning games.
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Scene-setter: With 14 Barclays Premier League games to play, United must finish strongly if the title remains a realistic ambition.
Hiddink confirmed on Friday that Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy are unavailable on Sunday due to their respective injuries, although Pedro could make it onto the bench after recovering from a groin injury this week.
Chelsea fans sang the captain’s name during a goalless draw at Watford on Wednesday and applauded him after the final whistle. This is normal for me but he needs more physical fitness.
Hiddink: “This is a big match”. Jackson Martinez’s new wages are said to have made him one of the top five best paid footballers in the world.
Last round Chelsea played hard game against Watford where they managed to keep clean sheet but Diego Costa was unable to score from two very good situations. We shall see just how strong the club and Oscar can stay in the face of ridiculously huge amounts of money on offer.
Guus Hiddink has refused to get involved in the debate concerning the recent struggles of compatriot Louis van Gaal at Manchester United because he has “enough problems” at Chelsea.
Chelsea have done something similar in the 2011/2012 season which saw them finish 6th in the Premier League but they went on to win Europe’s most coveted prize – The UCL, under the guidance of then boss Roberto Di Matteo. In short, they’re not exactly singing at this moment in time, despite what some might have you believe.
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They are at home for this match and it will be an unbelievable atmosphere at Stamford Bridge and the Blue will hope that they will be enough to motivate them to get over the line. “He has gone through good things and storms in football which means he is very experienced”, the manager said.
