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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson anticipating tight Chelsea clash after 'crazy' reverse fixture at Old Trafford
The manager believes Sunday's game at Stamford Bridge will be less end-to-end than the previous meeting between the two clubs at Old Trafford earlier this season
3 Feb 2012 19:55:00
By Danny Hart
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is expecting Sunday's match against Chelsea to be much tighter than the sides' meeting earlier this season.
The Red Devils raced into a 3-0 half-time lead in an end-to-end game at Old Trafford, before Fernando Torres pulled one back and went on to miss an open goal in the second half.
"That was a crazy game," the United boss told reporters.
"It could have been 20-18. I don't think it will be like that on Sunday. It will be much tighter."
Despite Chelsea sitting 12 points behind Sir Alex's men going into the match at Stamford Bridge, the Scot remains cautious against a side who United have not beaten away from home in the league for nine years.
"It's not going to be an easy game," he said.
"In the last seven years there have been many terrific battles with Chelsea."
The United manager also believes it will take time for Andre Villas-Boas' style of play to reap rewards at Chelsea.
He added: "The manager has brought in two or three different players and I noticed when we played them earlier in the season there was a change in the style from previous Chelsea teams.
"When a new manager comes in on the back of someone as successful as Carlo Ancelotti, changes maybe take time. Everyone has their different philosophy and different ways of doing things.
"That is what we are seeing with Chelsea at the moment."
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The Red Devils raced into a 3-0 half-time lead in an end-to-end game at Old Trafford, before Fernando Torres pulled one back and went on to miss an open goal in the second half.
"That was a crazy game," the United boss told reporters.
"It could have been 20-18. I don't think it will be like that on Sunday. It will be much tighter."
Despite Chelsea sitting 12 points behind Sir Alex's men going into the match at Stamford Bridge, the Scot remains cautious against a side who United have not beaten away from home in the league for nine years.
"It's not going to be an easy game," he said.
"In the last seven years there have been many terrific battles with Chelsea."
The United manager also believes it will take time for Andre Villas-Boas' style of play to reap rewards at Chelsea.
He added: "The manager has brought in two or three different players and I noticed when we played them earlier in the season there was a change in the style from previous Chelsea teams.
"When a new manager comes in on the back of someone as successful as Carlo Ancelotti, changes maybe take time. Everyone has their different philosophy and different ways of doing things.
"That is what we are seeing with Chelsea at the moment."
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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Live!
England 1-0 Belgium, Netherlands 4-0 Northern Ireland - follow all the international action LIVE! ahead of Euro 2012
With countries across the continent gearing up for their final warm-up games ahead of Euro 2012, join us for all the action from Saturday's friendlies. Get in touch with us via Twitter with your reaction.
Hosted by Joe Doyle
Hosted by Joe Doyle
20:06 BST
So, that game gave a few players a chance to impress for England. Who did/didn't? Will Welbeck start against France? Or Carroll? Or Defoe?!
19:59 BST
Unfortunately for Northern Ireland, they are trailing the Netherlands 4-0 at half-time. Looks like that one's all sewn up then.
19:54 BST
We're still getting plenty of Hazard chat on Twitter. A few are now saying that he's not worth the hype, others saying he was brilliant(!?) and others (which I agree with), saying he created much of his own hype. What do you think? Get involved!
19:46 BST
Joe Hart has also been giving his thoughts after the Belgium game: "It was a really tough game, a good run out. I thought we played well, [but] we were a little bit bitty at times.
"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.
"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.
"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
19:38 BST
Here's Roy Hodgson's reaction to the result and some injury chat: "I'm very pleased, it's been a hard week and we've used a lot of players. There was a lot of disruption in the second-half with substitutions – some forced upon us, some we wanted to do. But it's still a very good end to the week playing against a good Belgian team here. Arguably even stronger than the Norwegian team we played last week and I've got to be more than happy that we've come out with another victory."
"[Gary] Cahill I suppose is slightly more of a concern for me because it is a jaw injury. We're desperately hoping the CT scan doesn't show any fracture and it's just going to be a bruising situation, which will be bad enough, but won't stop him taking part in the tournament. As far as John's [Terry] concerned he felt his hamstring a little bit. Again it wasn't a major thing when he came off but we still need to scan it just to be 100 per cent sure."
Suffice to say, if Cahill has broken his jaw, he won't play any part in the tournament.
"[Gary] Cahill I suppose is slightly more of a concern for me because it is a jaw injury. We're desperately hoping the CT scan doesn't show any fracture and it's just going to be a bruising situation, which will be bad enough, but won't stop him taking part in the tournament. As far as John's [Terry] concerned he felt his hamstring a little bit. Again it wasn't a major thing when he came off but we still need to scan it just to be 100 per cent sure."
Suffice to say, if Cahill has broken his jaw, he won't play any part in the tournament.
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