Manchester United vs. Chelsea: 10 Things We Learned from Their Premiership Tilt
In the most eagerly anticipated match of the season, a lot was learned at Old Trafford after Manchester United crushed Chelsea 2-1 at the Theatre of Dreams.
United look set to steal Liverpool's crown as the most successful club in English football, as a 19th league title looks all but certain.
Chelsea, on the other hand, look a shadow of the team that stormed to Premiership and FA Cup victory last season.
It was a huge game up in Manchester, with many millions across the world tuning in to watch this title showdown. But what exactly did we learn from it all?
Edwin van der Sar Will Be a Tough Act to Follow
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On three occasions during the match against Chelsea, Manchester United could've seen their title charge disappear had it not been for Edwin van der Sar.
Retiring at the end of the season, the Red Devils goalkeeper pulled off the acrobatics of someone half his age as he made save after save to deny the likes of Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres.
His commanding presence in the penalty area and the way he organises his defence mean United are usually in safe hands when Edwin's around.
Being the respected figure he is at Old Trafford, van der Sar's shot-stopping ability and calming influence on his defenders means whoever steps up to replace the flying Dutchman will have to fill some very big shoes.
Carlo, That's Your Lotti
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With Carlo Ancelotti being a Champions League-winning manager, it was no secret that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich drafted him in from AC Milan to take the Blues to European glory.
He failed to do that last season but showed signs of promise, as he took the West London club to league and cup success.
But as we all know, this season has been a completely different story, with Chelsea starting bright before crashing and burning out of contention for any trophy.
Two seasons without signs of UEFA Champions League success, plus a total lack of trophies this season thanks to the match at Old Trafford, combined with his indifferent relationship with Chelsea's two marquee signings, David Luiz and Fernando Torres, mean Carlo Ancelotti is a sacked man walking at Stamford Bridge.
Ancelotti Hates David Luiz
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Speaking of Carlo Ancelotti and his relationship with £22.7 million signing David Luiz, it's clear the Italian manager doesn't like him at all.
After Javier Hernandez rifled Manchester ahead with less than a minute played, Ancelotti immediately placed all of the blame on David Luiz, gesticulating that the Brazilian centre-back should've just cleared the ball instead of trying to play it.
Luiz retaliated and mouthed to his boss that it wasn't his fault, to which the incensed Ancelotti threatened Luiz with substitution after ordering centre-back Alex to warm up. All this happened with less than a minute of the match played.
David Luiz was promptly taken off at halftime and for the rest of the game apparently didn't talk to Ancelotti and made zero eye contact with him.
It's clear Ancelotti doesn't get on well with the new addition to his squad, who was fully a Roman Abramovich signing.
Old Trafford Is Daunting
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Part of Manchester United's success on Sunday was down to the Theatre of Dreams and the electric atmosphere inside.
It's clear that Chelsea were daunted by the task of visiting Old Trafford, where United haven't lost this season, in order to try to win the league title.
Rammed with over 76,000 fans, with over 90 per cent of them hostile to the away side, it was never going to be easy for the Blues.
As the match progressed, that's exactly how it turned out; it wasn't an easy game for Chelsea, with Old Trafford doing funny things to these players.
From on-pitch arguments to defensive errors to fluffing their lines in front of goal, no wonder these Chelsea players could be seen staring into the stands thinking, "What sort of nightmare have I entered?!"
Chelsea Need a Better Psychologist
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In the most important match of their season, Chelsea displayed the same bottle and resolve as their London rivals Arsenal by choking when it came to the big occasion.
After going a goal down in less than a minute, the Blues never looked like recovering, as they appeared visibly shocked and daunted by the sheer magnitude of the stadium and the task ahead of them.
Getting into squabbles with the manager and technical staff, as well as their teammates, these Chelsea players were all over the place mentally.
As the match wore on, especially after Nemanja Vidic headed home to put Manchester United 2-0 up, the Blues seemed to lack self-efficacy—that is, the belief they could turn it around and win.
They seemed scared to take risks going forward and sought to pass and walk the ball into the net more so than create space for a shot on goal.
It appears they lost their "mental strength" when it mattered most. So if Chelsea are to challenge for major honours in future, it looks like they could do with a much better team psychologist.
Chelsea Need Better Technical Staff
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Football, like every sport, is a game of strategy. Against Manchester United, Chelsea lacked a clear and defined strategy in attack, in midfield and in defence.
Carlo Ancelotti and his technical staff can pore over multiple tactics and strategies for hours, working day and night to find the right formula, but even if it is the right one, it won't work if the coaches can't communicate it to the players.
On Sunday, it seems that whatever was worked on at Cobham training ground got lost in translation on the pitch.
The midfield seemed confused between tactics half the time, with Frank Lampard frequently getting himself into awkward, useless positions, as if to suggest he became unstuck with the tactics Ancelotti and co. went over in the pre-match brief.
The defence, meanwhile, especially Ashley Cole, failed to deal with United's threat from the wings, which ultimately led to their demise. It appears that opposition scouting wasn't done as well as it should've been.
Carlo Ancelotti certainly isn't making it easy for himself at the Bridge, but his job is being made all the harder by the lacklustre Michael Emenalo.
If only Chelsea went back to days of Ray Wilkins as assistant gaffer, with Jose Mourinho in charge and Andre Villas Boas as his opposition scout—now those really were the glory days.
Manchester United Play for Sir Alex Ferguson
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When Sir Alex Ferguson speaks, his Manchester United players listen.
Unlike at Chelsea, it would seem, Sir Alex has total respect from every single member of his playing squad, and whatever he says, it sinks in.
On the pitch against the Blues on Sunday, it was clear that United stuck to Sir Alex's game plan and tactics religiously and got everything from the range of passing to off-ball movement spot-on.
These players clearly trust Sir Alex and worked for over 90 minutes to give that man another Premier League winners medal.
If Antonio Valencia Had Played the Whole Season...
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Against Chelsea, Antonio Valencia was paramount to Manchester United's success.
The Ecuadorian winger made a mockery of Ashley Cole, beating him all ends up time and time again. Not only that, he also managed to tackle Cole and win United possession in the final third on two occasions as well.
Such was his beating of Cole that Valencia virtually managed to stop the England left-back from venturing forward for the majority of the match.
His crossing throughout the game was also back to the standard of the Valencia of old, with pinpoint deliveries consistently put into troublesome areas for the Chelsea defence, with many corners, and ultimately Vidic's goal, won thanks to Valencia's balls into the penalty area.
The general feeling at Old Trafford among players, fans and staff is that of what could have been had Antonio Valencia been fit for the whole season.
Barca Be Warned
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Manchester United proved they can deliver when it matters most with the comprehensive beating of Chelsea.
Ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final with FC Barcelona at Wembley, it served as a timely reminder that this final is not over before it starts.
United showed they have the mental strength, all-round ability and tactical knowledge to beat anyone on their day.
As Ji-Sung Park and Antonio Valencia proved, United also have the ability to give themselves the territorial advantage and push back the opposition midfield and full-backs, two areas which Barca thrive on in an attacking sense.
It won't be an easy game for United against Barcelona's purely dominant tiki-taka style, but likewise the world now knows it won't be an easy game for Barca either.
Forget Liverpool—Manchester United Are the New Kings of England
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Manchester United will be the new Premier League champions! (Probably.)
With that they overtake Liverpool, with whom they shared a joint record of 18 league titles, to become the most decorated football club in England.
Sir Alex Ferguson vowed to overtake Liverpool as the most successful team in England, and now it appears he's almost done it.
The remarkable thing is when Sir Alex said that, the number of league titles between the two clubs was 18-7 in Liverpool's favour!
Twelve Premier League titles later, Sir Alex Ferguson's prophecy has come true.
