United Favourites for Chelsea Round Two

Manchester United will feel confident ahead of the quarter final second leg match with Chelsea.

United go into the game with a narrow 1-0 advantage thanks to a good counter attacking goal from Wayne Rooney in the game at Stamford Bridge. United put together the classic away performance in the first leg of this tie and will be hoping Chelsea make mistakes in their quest for goals.

United have also put things right in the Premier League and now look as though they will have no trouble securing a 19th league title. There were important goals for Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia in the game which gives Sir Alex Ferguson a few selection problems ahead of this game.

Rafael Da Silva is sweating over to whether he is going to be fit for the match and right back is the only area causing United a problem. Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic will line up in the middle of the defence with Patrice Evra doing his normal role at left back.

Sir Alex Ferguson can go a number of different ways in terms of his selection with the midfield players. Nani and Park Ji-Sung seem the most likely players to play down either wing but the performance of Valencia at the weekend now causes a problem. Park could be favoured because the South Korean is slightly fitter and has more of a work ethic.

In the middle of the park the boss will go for experience and will pick the best two players he currently has. Paul Scholes should play if he is available, otherwise it could be Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs in the two central midfield places. Ferguson will want to include a Giggs or a Scholes to ensure that panic doesn’t spread through the team if Chelsea start well.

Up front Wayne Rooney should be guaranteed a place because he’s had an extra match of rest owing to his domestic suspension. Who partners him in the side is now the real big problem. Berbatov has done himself the world of good with the goal against Fulham and if he gets the nod, it’ll be the chance to get his regular place back.

However, Javier Hernandez could be a better option because of his pace. Chelsea can’t sit back in this game which will leave more gaps in behind the defence, Hernandez has the skill and pace to exploit these gaps which could lead to one or two easy goals later in the game.