Man Utd V Chelsea: Charting the Sides' Fortunes Since Sir Alex Ferguson's Exit

If some Manchester United fans had got their way, Jose Mourinho would be sitting in the home dugout at Old Trafford on Sunday instead of the one opposite.

Mourinho was the popular choice when Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement in May 2013. He had everything many fans were looking for in a United manager—the CV, the stature and the aura.

But it was David Moyes who was chosen as Ferguson's replacement, and Mourinho returned to Chelsea. What's happened to the fortunes of both clubs since is proof of how, in football, things can change very quickly.

Chelsea have rivalled United for the big prizes since they struck oil with Roman Abramovich in 2003. But as Ferguson marched towards the last of his 13 titles in 2013, Chelsea were only a sideshow.

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Finishing 14 points off the pace, they were almost an irrelevance as United and Manchester City fought it out at the top for the second year in a row. 

Then came the change of managers. Mourinho replaced Rafael Benitez and Moyes took over from Ferguson. One appointment worked. The other ended in disaster.

A year later, Chelsea finished four points behind champions Manchester City. United, meanwhile, finished 22 points off the top in seventh. They had already begun the search for a new manager.

As Chelsea and United prepare to face each other at Old Trafford on Sunday, the new man, Louis van Gaal, is still trying to steady the ship, while Mourinho has guided his team to an unbeaten start to the season to sit five points clear at the top after eight games.

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United fans used to delight at watching Abramovich disposing of manager after manager, while Ferguson extended his stay at Old Trafford. But Moyes didn't last much longer than some of Chelsea's appointments. 

And it will be Mourinho who sends a team out on Sunday having benefitted from a bit of stability. It's something Van Gaal is still striving for. In his defence, he's only been there a few months.

United fans will at least feel they are now on a more even playing field. They've got a manager who can compete with Mourinho in a way Moyes never seemed able to. 

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They've also shown they can match Abramovich's spending in the transfer market. In summers past, Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao might have ended up at Stamford Bridge.

A week can be a long time in football, never mind the 18 months since Ferguson announced his retirement. And the instability that once afflicted Chelsea is now affecting United.

United will feel they are remedying that with the arrival of Van Gaal, a manager who feels a better fit at Old Trafford than Moyes ever did.

On Sunday, for the first time since Ferguson left, United won't be envious of Chelsea's manager—just where he's got his team.