Manchester United will face Chelsea in this round’s highlight FA Cup match in a few hours from now. This is also a repeat of last year’s final of the same competition but a lot has changed since for both the teams.
The teams have new managers at the helm but both are experiencing contrasting fortunes as of now. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has come in and in the words of many, ”saved” Manchester United’s season. Maurizio Sarri, on the other hand, got off to a good start as the Blues’ manager but his aversion to tweak his tactics has seen Chelsea fall prey to a number of high profile defeats in recent weeks.
This will be a key match and Manchester United will be looking to take advantage of Chelsea’s patchy form and themselves get back to winning ways after the defeat against PSG.
MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will miss the duo of Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard with the two out for around two to three weeks after sustaining injuries in the UCL first leg. Antonio Valencia and Marcos Rojo are also out injured as is Matteo Darmian.
PREDICTED MANCHESTER UNITED LINEUP VS CHELSEA (4-3-3 diamond)
DEFENCE
Many might be inclined to go with David de Gea in goal tonight but Sergio Romero has been a loyal and trusted servant in the Cup games and should get a start.
Ashley Young is expected to line up at right back once again. His experience is unmatched and despite a colourless outing against PSG, he should be given a go.
Chris Smalling seems to be a better option than Bailly and Jones and should start alongside the in-form Victor Lindelof.
Luke Shaw is likely to get a start at left-back and with their next assignment on Sunday, a rest will not make sense now.
MIDFIELD
Ole has already used the diamond in midfield in a couple of big wins since he took over as the manager and might go with a similar formation. But with Lingard and Martial injured, there will be an obvious change in personnel.
Paul Pogba was played in midfield in wins against Arsenal and Tottenham but we are going with the Frenchman at the tip of the diamond which will find him face up to an out of form Jorginho on more than one occasion during the course of the game.
The other three in the midfield could be Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera and Fred. Matic will be anchoring the side with the Brazilian and Spaniard in slightly advanced areas on either side of him.
ATTACK
This leaves us with two wide forwards to choose. Marcus Rashford should be one of them with Alexis Sanchez most likely to partner him in case Ole goes with this formation. It will be a gamble selecting both Sanchez and Lukaku for this crucial encounter with both of them woefully out of form.
