Manchester United's Win Against Chelsea and the Red Devils' Prospects

Manchester United defeated Chelsea in an exhilarating and ultimately controversial match at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The whole game involved a cavalier, attacking attitude from both teams and a conflation of interesting tactics. However, the effects of the match may well be felt for the rest of the season. In this article, we take a look at what this win might mean for Manchester United's prospects this season.

The Premier League

In the short term, the win means United are now only one point behind Chelsea in the Premier League. The Blues had set the early season pace in the Premier League, and United's win has helped rein them in towards the remaining teams in the league. 

After next weekend's game against Arsenal at Old Trafford, United embark on a sequence of eminently winnable games against Aston Villa, Norwich City, QPR, West Ham United and Reading. Every United fan should rightly expect the team to win each of these six upcoming games—something that could leave United in a very strong position in the League table.

In the same period, United's competitors have potentially more difficult fixtures lined up. Manchester City have games against Tottenham, Chelsea and Everton before the Manchester derby on 9 December. Chelsea, meanwhile, need to play Liverpool and Manchester City before the all important derby at the Etihad stadium.

Thus, if Manchester United do build on the Chelsea win and achieve the six-game winning streak we expect in the League, they would probably go into the Manchester Derby on 9 December in pole position in the league.

UEFA Champions League

In the Champions League, the Red Devils already sit pretty on top of their group with a maximum possible nine points from three games. With a five point lead already at the top of the group table, United only need to beat Braga in ten days' time to ensure an early passage into the knockout stages.

United will probably feel the benefits of their victory once they begin coming up against some of the better European teams. The way the players responded to Sir Alex's choice of an attacking formation indicates a confidence in the squad that they can score goals against the best sides in the game. This confidence will hold them in good stead for the rest of the European campaign.

More importantly, the choice to play to their strength and attack bodes well for the season's big games. Ferguson has had the tendency in the past to tinker too much with his sides and give too much respect to opponents in the big games. A perfect example was United's timid performance in the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in April last season.

The Chelsea game indicated a renewed aggressive and brave attitude towards the big games and should stand United in good stead in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The League Cup

In what can only be termed a cruel twist of fate, Manchester United visit Stamford Bridge again in their very next game for a fourth round League Cup clash. It is likely that both managers will field much changed teams for this game. However, the (possibly young) United team would have to deal with the lingering rancor of the Chelsea supporters.

The hostile atmosphere that is likely to greet Manchester United on Wednesday will probably play a huge part in the Red Devils exiting the League Cup. In addition, United's record at Stamford Bridge in the last decade makes it unlikely that they will get a second consecutive victory at the ground in as many games.

Whichever way this game goes, Sir Alex Ferguson won't be too bothered about the result on Wednesday. If United lose, it would be treated as a decongestion of the already cluttered fixture list. If they win, Sir Alex will take it as a positive sign of his team's character.