EPL - Chelsea vs Manchester United - Apr 26
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FERGUSON UNHAPPY WITH SCHEDULING
Sir Alex Ferguson ordered his Manchester United players some much-needed R&R after finding themselves on the wrong end of an "unfair" fixture schedule.
After gaining a creditable draw in the hard-fought Champions League semi-final with Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Wednesday, United abandoned their usual strategy of immediately returning to the north-west in favour of staying overnight in Catalonia.
They then flew to London on Thursday night before undergoing a light training session in the capital on Friday morning as final preparation for their title showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Twelve months ago, the Red Devils also followed up a European semi-final with a Saturday lunchtime league fixture which in that instance worked out well, as United bounced back from the crushing disappointment of defeat by AC Milan with victory over Manchester City. Combined with Chelsea failing to beat Arsenal the following day, that win proved enough to see them crowned champions.
A similar triumph over Avram Grant's men would, barring a mathematical miracle, secure back-to-back titles for United. However, Ferguson has noted the fixture list is in Chelsea's favour given the Londoners gained an extra 24 hours' rest following their equally tense draw with Liverpool.
"The fixture is not fair in terms of the timing between the two games," said Ferguson. "Chelsea had a Tuesday fixture followed by a Wednesday one, so they have four days to get themselves ready for both games. There is no question that is a big advantage because, unfortunately, all we have are 60 hours.
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fa likes to make the matches interesting don't they rofl....now it all boils down to the players'own mentality
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this is supposed to be a season of contrasting fortunes for manu and chelsea, the former is touting to having the best players in manu colours in a decade while the latter was supposed to be in major disarray after the early season ding-dong...yet they are about as close as you can get to the finish...in a nutshell, winning both remaining trophies are pretty much in manu court....fergie might be wise to send a couple of players back and skip the chelsea game for some needed rest.... chelsea is without lampard, which is good news given his sub par performance and with ballack in form they've actually freed up a slot in the middle....i'm wondering why they've yet to try the drogba-anelka option.....fergie should not do the benitez by tinkering with untested formation as he did in the barca game.....
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Vidic is set to return
Nemanja Vidic looks set to play in United's lunchtime trip to Stamford Bridge on Saturday after recovering from a stomach virus.
The Serbian defender missed the Reds' Champions League clash in Barcelona on Wednesday, but was able to train on Friday morning and is all but certain to start against Chelsea.
"Vidic will hopefully be okay," confirmed Sir Alex. "He has trained this morning. We're hopeful he will be fit. He has a good chance. We dealt with it [the virus] right away and got him to hospital quickly. We hope he is going to be all right."
The United boss also confirmed he would make one or two changes to the side which earned a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp. "I will freshen up one or two positions. With the squad I've got, I can do that. There's nothing definite at the moment but I'll make a couple of changes."
The big games keep coming for United with the semi-final second leg against Barcelona at Old Trafford on Tuesday. But Sir Alex feels the scheduling has gone against the Reds.
"The Liverpool fixture with Chelsea was Tuesday followed by Wednesday, so there is four days either way to get themselves ready, which is a big advantage," he stated. "Unfortunately, we have 60 hours to prepare for this game. All we can do is rest. We stayed overnight in Barcelona and had a light training session at their training ground. Being in the sun and having a day relaxing is probably the best thing we could have done.
"Once you shake hands with the devil, there is nothing you can do about it. It is not fair but what can you do? It happened to us last year after the semi-final with AC Milan, we had to play Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime. We just get on with it." -
i want us to win this game.. not only for the title.. but also to break chelseas..record... =X
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Ronaldo's on the bench!
Evra's not even in the team!
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oh yeah darren 'big game' fletcher is in!!
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yo brothers!!!!... pls give mi minute by minutes commentary can?????? mi no money for cable and using company laptop.. so dun wan to install those online tv things........ but if u anyone got any site then can watch the match without installing anything on the laptop.. pls tell mi ok....
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boss i update u
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start liao
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where to watch live on the net huh?
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Vidic kenna injure by Drogba. Seems like Owen will replace him...
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judging from fergi line up
guess he is playing for a draw
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Man Utd is lucky. Chelsea hit the bar
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Originally posted by scorchio:
Vidic kenna injure by Drogba. Seems like Owen will replace him...
so fast?? knn de cb... that guy know how to play football or not... aiming for legs? -
Originally posted by scorchio:
Man Utd is lucky. Chelsea hit the bar
basket. LOL. -
Originally posted by I-like-flings(m):
so fast?? knn de cb... that guy know how to play football or not... aiming for legs?Vidic fighting the ball with him. His knees knock onto vidic's chin area...then he bleeds. Vidic canot walk off the pitch need to be stretcher away...
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Originally posted by scorchio:
Vidic fighting the ball with him. His knees knock onto vidic's chin area...then he bleeds. Vidic canot walk off the pitch need to be stretcher away...
dun care.... still his fault for having a leg stronger than Vidic.....
anyway.. where is my mine min by min report.. someone still say will do it for mi.... must be too exciting now.. no time to type.. knn...
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man u like not performing lehs.... =/
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Chelsea's attacking like heck... Man Utd is defending like heck...
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chelsea play so damn violent like gays lah....
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Anderson is such a strong boy.. haha
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ballack score liao la... wah lans.
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Chelsea score... ballack...