FA Cup Final Betting Tips

May 18, 2007 - Ian Ross Deposed champions Chelsea face newly crowned Premiership title holders Manchester United in a match which promises to be electrifying when the two sides go head to head in the first FA Cup Final at the all new Wembley Stadium. The fixture is a truly fitting finale to a season which has seen the two sides fight out an enthralling two-horse Premiership race.
 
Rather unsurprisingly, much of the pre-match build up entertainment has been provided by the self-proclaimed 'special one', Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who has been bemoaning the amount of injuries that have plagued his squad in recent weeks. Such is the severity of the predicament, Mourinho has hinted that he might play goalkeeper Hilario up front. Now that would be something.
 
So is Jose preparing excuses in advance because he doesn't think his charges will beat United?. Or is he trying to lead the Red Devils into a false sense of security? In any case, I don't think it'll matter, as Sir Alex Ferguson's men have been awesome this season, very much deserving to win the title, and I am pretty confident they'll end the season as double winners.
 
To be fair to Jose, though, his squad has suffered in the run up to this game. The absence of Ricardo Carvalho has been a major blow during the latter part of their campaign as he has been one of the Blues' best players. Furthermore, Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko have been ruled out, while Ashley Cole, Jon Obi-Mikel and Arjen Robben are all touch and go.
 
Conversely, Ferguson faces very few selection headaches with long-term absentees Gary Neville and Louis Saha being the only two on the easy list. Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic appears to have fully recovered from a broken collarbone and looks set to partner Rio Ferdinand in the centre of the park. Giggs, Scholes, Rooney and Ronaldo will all be relatively fresh.
 
United have already won more FA Cups than any other club having lifted the coveted silverware on no less than 11 occasions. It would be a tremendous if achievement if they can make it a dozen in what is the 126th FA Cup Final. This competition is the only domestic one the south west London outfit have failed to win under Mourinho, but they did emerge victorious in 2000, the last final played at the old Wembley prior to £750 million overhaul.
 
However, in ten meeting between Chelsea and Man Utd in this tournament, the Blues have won just once, which was at the quarter-final stage back in 1950. Even if Chelsea were able to field their strongest side, I would have still fancied United, As such, the fact that the Red Devils's task has been made easier by the defection of some of their opponent's key players, the top-priced 9/5 on offer with expekt makes for a mouthwatering bet.
 
It will be interesting to see how this game pans out from a tactical perspective, especially where Chelsea are concerned. But ultimately this should be a real spectacle with 90,000 fans filling the magnificent new north west London-based arena, and a clash which the mutuals will relish almost as much as supporters of either team. When the dust settles, however, only one side can leave with the cup, and that will be Manchester United.
 
Verdict: 2.50pts Man Utd to win @ 9/5 (expekt)

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