It’s Chelsea’s last chance to take home something more than than the Carling Cup after at one stage hoping for an amazing quadruple...but Manchester United will be wanting to do the big domestic double – the Premiership and the FA Cup.
Next weekend’s FA Cup is undoubtedly the Battle of the Titans of English football.
Chelsea are the product of sharp buys, great management and supreme self belief. United are more home-grown talent, carefully nurtured...and a history of success.
For both sides though, the new Wembley will be a battleground where neither team will want to lose – and neither side are clear favourites.
So although the stage will be magnificent for the final rites in the passage of this season's domestic competitions, we should look forward to a match dominated by pragmatism rather than panache.
Those with short memories will flag up last season's final between Liverpool and West Ham as an example of a thrilling match but think back before then.
Since the 1990s, it has been pretty dreary stuff - the FA's own website has four classic finals from the 1980s, just 1990 from the next decade, when United and Crystal Palace drew 3-3, until last season's draw by the same score.
In the intervening 15 years, FA Cup finals have been affairs where either one side has dominated comprehensively, or else tense games where both teams have cancelled each other out.
It seems hugely likely that the latter case will apply again this season - and even more so because the double will be up for grabs.
At least there should be plenty of entertainment off the pitch. By branding his fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo "uneducated", and suggesting the winger must have had a "difficult childhood", Mourinho has crossed the invisible line.
It is one thing for managers to slate each other in the so-called mind games they like to play; it is quite another to so blatantly insult a player from another club.
As usual though, Mourinho will have calculated the effect of his words. The Chelsea manager must believe there is nothing to be lost by winding up his opponents' most dangerous player - indeed, that there may be much to gain by trying to put him off his stride.
Sir Alex Ferguson has done his best to protect his player by claiming Mourinho should face disciplinary action for insinuating there is some sort of conspiracy against Chelsea.
Even so, he should be wary of the wiles of Mourinho. Manchester United may be advocates of fast, flowing, dynamic football that is so easy on the eye, but Ferguson should consider applying the brakes to outwit his rival.
If United can keep it tight and rely on the surging breaks of Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, that should provide them with the best obstacle to break up Chelsea's battering-ram approach.
Chelsea's best hope is sticking to the plan that has brought them so many 1-0 victories this season: i.e. an all-powerful defence, marauding midfielders and strong strikers that present their opponents with a force so relentless that even the best usual succumb to the power they are faced with.
In tactical terms, therefore, we can expect a no-frills match, and no thrills either.
The real entertainment will be on the sidelines as Ferguson and Mourinho go head to head in a final for the first time.
And whoever wins, one can be sure that the taste of defeat will be unbearably bitter for the loser.
Continues...
CUP HISTORY
Manchester United have won the FA Cup a record 11 times, their most recent success coming in 2004. Chelsea have three victories to their name, including the last cup final to be played at the old Wembley in 2000. The clubs have met 10 times in FA Cup combat, with United boasting eight victories to Chelsea's one. They last met in the final in 1994 when United thrashed the Blues 4-0. Their most recent FA Cup meeting came in the 1999 quarter-final, when United won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge en route to the treble. United are making their third appearance in the final in four seasons. The last time Chelsea reached the final was in 2002, when they lost to Arsenal.
BIG FINAL EXPERIENCE
United have the edge in cup final experience after reaching 30 in all competitions - twice as many as Chelsea. United have won 18 of those finals, including two European Cup wins. Chelsea have been victorious in 10 of their cup final appearances, including two European Cup Winners' Cup successes. Both teams have reached finals in recent years. Chelsea have already picked up the Carling Cup this season, the second time they have won the trophy in three years. United beat Wigan in the interim. United have reached the FA Cup final 17 times, with Chelsea making seven appearances.
PLAYER EXPERIENCE
None of the Chelsea forwards have played in an FA Cup final, although Shevchenko has played at Wembley for Ukraine against England in a friendly before the stadium was knocked down in 2000. England won the game 2-0.
United's strikers have more experience in FA Cup finals with Rooney starring in the 2005 showpiece at the Millennium Stadium by hitting a post and scoring in the penalty shoot-out.
Sadly for Rooney, he ended up with a losers medal as Arsenal were the victors 5-4 on penalties.
Solskjaer is the only striker on show to have memories of the old Wembley.
The 34-year-old started the 1999 FA Cup against Newcastle as a centre forward. He lasted only nine minutes there before Roy Keane got injured and Teddy Sheringham was brought on.
The versatile Norwegian switched to the right flank and United went on to win 2-0 on the second leg of their treble campaign.
Solskjaer won his second FA Cup medal when he came on as a sub in the 3-0 FA Cup Final win against Millwall at the Millennium Stadium in 2004.
Continues...THE TEAMS
MANAGERS
Jose Mourinho has arguably the most impressive managerial record in Europe in recent years. The Portuguese has picked up nine trophies in Portugal and England over the past four years. The FA Cup is the only domestic trophy he has failed to win in his time with Porto and Chelsea. He won a treble with Porto in 2003 and then achieved the unique feat of winning the UEFA Cup and Champions League in consecutive years. Mourinho delivered Chelsea's first league championship for 50 years as well as the league cup in his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge. Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in English football history. Since arriving at Old Trafford 20 years ago, Ferguson has won 16 trophies, including the 1999 treble. He also picked up 10 trophies in Scotland with Aberdeen and St Mirren. United had been off the pace in the league for the past few years as they struggled to compete with Chelsea but have returned to the fore this term.
SQUADS
Chelsea's squad depth is well documented, with Mourinho's bench usually costing more than the entire opposition team. The Blues can regularly call on a host of internationals to come to the rescue if need be. United seem slightly thin on the ground in comparison, especially in defence. Chelsea have been buoyed by the return of Joe Cole to the starting line-up and crucially they have Petr Cech and captain John Terry back to their best after suffering serious injuries earlier in the season. Both have been key to Chelsea's miserly defensive record and are vital to the side as they aim for an unprecedented quadruple.
STYLES
The final should be an interesting clash of styles. It will be the flair of United against the ruthless efficiency of Chelsea. United have ripped teams apart with their fast-paced attacking football this season. They like to get the ball wide to their excellent wingers Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs, who are a nightmare for opposition full-backs to handle. Chelsea, on the other hand, wear teams down with their strong central midfield trio of Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Michael Essien and in Didier Drogba they have the Premiership's leading scorer who has blossomed this year. Both teams have impressive defences but will be severely tested by some of the league's top attackers.
FORM
Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko have been the main attacking selections in Chelsea's run to the final with five starts each.
Mourinho rotated his team in the third round against Macclesfield before his top two hitmen paired up against Nottingham Forest and, within 21 minutes, both had grabbed their first goals of the campaign.
Their partnership continued with a goal each versus Norwich in round four.
Salomon Kalou made a rare start for the Blues in the 6-1 win over lowly Macclesfield but has contributed from the substitutes' bench with the all-important equaliser with five minutes remaining in the quarter-final tie against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
Joe Cole made his first FA Cup appearance of the season after a foot injury with a start against Blackburn at Old Trafford in the semi-final.
Wayne Rooney has been Manchester United's main man on the road to Wembley this season. In four starts and two substitute appearances Rooney has scored six goals, with two braces against Portsmouth in round four and the semi-final against Watford at Villa Park.
Louis Saha's injury nightmare continues and the Frenchman's involvement in the cup has been limited to just two starts with his sole strike coming in the fifth round replay against Reading.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also scored in the frantic opening six minutes at the Madejski Stadium when United went three up. Solskjaer got United's FA Cup campaign off to a winning start with a typical last-gasp winner against Aston Villa in round three.
Alan Smith has come back from injury just at the right time for United and could be in contention for a final berth after his impressive performance against Watford in the semi-final.
ATTRIBUTES
Drogba offers Chelsea pace and power, giving their defence the option to send the ball through the centre or alternatively into the channels.
When Shevchenko is on song, defences must beware as the Ukrainian can be a destructive striker with his variety of goals from around the box.
Kalou brings additional pace which is used when defences begin to tire while Joe Cole plays deep and has a wide array of skills.
Saha is in the mould of Drogba when he is fit and is predominately stronger on his left side, while Rooney provides the match-winning magic and explosive power.
Solskjaer is lethal from the substitutes' bench with his predatory instincts in the box and Alan Smith likes the physical challenge and is a fine hold-up player.
MANAGER'S SELECTION
Mourinho will turn to his big guns for his first FA Cup final and the Drogba/Shevchenko partnership will be unleashed on the United defence, fitness permitting.
Drogba will occupy spaces between the two centre-halves or in the channels while Shevchenko will at times come deep for the ball or pounce in the box when the chance arises.
Sir Alex Ferguson will look to extend United's record to 12 FA Cup successes and the partnership of Rooney and Saha will be reunited providing the vulnerable Frenchman is fit to play.
Rooney will occupy the link position or even start from the left flank and drift into the game, with Saha playing on the last man, hoping to stretch the game for Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes to gain space.
Continues...
THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY
We examine how both sides progressed through the rounds.
THIRD ROUND
Chelsea 6 Macclesfield 1
Frank Lampard opened the scoring after 16 minutes only for John Murphy to slot home a shock 40th-minute equaliser. Parity lasted less than 90 seconds as Lampard scored his second. The game was up when Tommy Lee saw red after conceding a penalty. Lampard completed his first Chelsea hat-trick from the spot before Shaun Wright-Phillips, Mikel John Obi and Ricardo Carvalho added gloss to the scoreline.
Man Utd 2 Aston Villa 1
On-loan Henrik Larsson celebrated his United debut with a stunning volleyed opener 10 minutes after half-time, but he looked like being denied a winning start when Milan Baros came off the bench to level after 74 minutes. However, United's own super-sub Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored a typical stoppage-time goal when his shot squirmed under Gabor Kiraly.
FOURTH ROUND
Chelsea 3 Nottingham Forest 0
Another easy Chelsea win against lower league opponents was kick-started by Andriy Shevchenko's ninth-minute volley, which deflected in off Forest's John Curtis. The game was up before the interval as Didier Drogba curled home a 25-yard free-kick in the 18th minute before Mikel poked the ball home in first-half stoppage-time.
Man Utd 2 Portsmouth 1
United were once again made to work hard for victory after Nemanja Vidic's headed goal was not given despite crossing the line before being cleared by Pedro Mendes. It took until the 77th minute for Wayne Rooney to tap home Ryan Giggs' cross before the United striker's inch-perfect chip appeared to end the Pompey resistance. However, Kanu's deflected consolation made it a nervy final three minutes.
FIFTH ROUND
Chelsea 4 Norwich 0
Despite the scoreline, Chelsea were made to work a lot harder against Championship opposition and were fortunate not to be behind when Dickson Etuhu hit the inside of the post. Wright-Phillips' 39th-minute opener also owed much to luck, taking a deflection on its way in. Drogba's 51st-minute turn and shot, and stoppage-time efforts from substitutes Michael Essien and Andriy Shevchenko wrapped up the scoring.
Man Utd 1 Reading 1; Reading 2 Man Utd 3
Both managers fielded largely second-string sides at Old Trafford where Michael Carrick fired United ahead from outside the box before Brynjar Gunnarsson headed in a surprise equaliser. Goalkeeper Adam Federici was the star of the show with a brilliant display in a rare start for the Royals. It was ironic therefore that his howler sparked a United siege in the replay, Gabriel Heinze's second-minute shot squirming under the keeper's body. Louis Saha volleyed in a second and Solskjaer broke the offside trap to score a third before six minutes had been played. However, Reading were desperately unlucky not to take the game to extra-time after Dave Kitson pulled one back, substitute Leroy Lita netted with six minutes remaining and Gunnarsson struck the crossbar.
QUARTER-FINALS
Chelsea 3 Tottenham 3; Tottenham 1 Chelsea 2
A thrilling game at Stamford Bridge saw Dimitar Berbatov smash Spurs ahead, Lampard level, but Essien's own goal and Hossam Ghaly's opportunist effort hand the visitors a 3-1 advantage. Staring at a first domestic home defeat as Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho went for broke. Spurs' withdrawal of Berbatov was tantamount to suicide as Lampard and substitute Salomon Kalou rescued a draw - though Jermain Defoe did hit the bar late on. The replay was surprisingly comfortable for Chelsea, Shevchenko's sublime angled drive and Wright-Phillips' volley setting up a win that was never really in doubt, even when Robbie Keane pulled one back from the spot.
Middlesbrough 2 Man Utd 2; Man Utd 1 Middlesbrough 0
Controversy reigned at the Riverside as Cristiano's penalty spared United a 2-1 defeat. Rooney drove the visitors ahead but Lee Cattermole's volley on the stroke of half-time and George Boateng's header two minutes after the restart turned the tie on its head. However, Boateng was harshly adjudged to have deliberately handled Rio Ferdinand's header and Ronaldo did the rest. An ill-tempered replay was settled by another Ronaldo spot-kick, this one indisputable after the Portugal winger was chopped down by Jonathan Woodgate. James Morrison then saw red for a lunge on Ronaldo, with both benches becoming involved in some ugly scenes late on.
SEMI-FINALS
Blackburn 1 Chelsea 2 (aet)
Lampard broke the offside trap to fire an angled shot past Brad Friedel after just 16 minutes at Old Trafford as Chelsea dominated. But Shevchenko's embarrassing air shot inspired a Rovers fightback, Jason Roberts deflecting in Morten Gamst Pedersen's free-kick for his first Blackburn goal. Pedersen missed a free header in normal time, and Michael Ballack made him pay with a left-foot winner in the 109th minute.
Watford 1 Manchester United 4
An inspired Rooney blasted United in front after just six minutes but Watford hit back to level thanks to Hameur Bouazza's overhead kick 20 minutes later. But it took just two minutes for Rooney to set up Ronaldo for an easy tap-in and the England striker all-but wrapped up the win with an equally-straightforward finish. There was still time for Kieran Richardson to chip in a fourth.
Continues...
THE VITAL BATTLES
We look at how each team can avoid their day turning into a nightmare.
STOPPING RONALDO AND ROONEY
Shutting down two players out of 11 seems simple. But such are the talents of Manchester United's two most precious assets that they are often unplayable. The good news for Chelsea is that neither has ever scored against them, thanks largely to the Blues' near-impenetrable defence. The bad news is that Rooney in particular reserves his best performances for the biggest games. As for Ronaldo, Chelsea will be particularly keen to have Ashley Cole available, with the England left-back enjoying an impressive record when pitted against the Portugal winger.
WINNING THE MIDFIELD BATTLE
There is a good reason why this is one of the biggest cliches in football and it will be no different at Wembley. United's midfield has been by far the most dynamic in the Premiership this season with Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick boasting a host of goals and assists for the Red Devils. Chelsea began the season with a midfield that placed the emphasis very much on strength and stability. Out went Arjen Robben, Damien Duff and Joe Cole, as the Blues battered opponents into submission. Cole's return from injury has resulted in a more fluid system but they may need to revert to a more muscular approach to nullify United's threat.
SAFE HANDS?
Such a high-profile game puts goalkeepers under the microscope like never before and the slightest mistake or moment of inspiration could make the difference between victory and defeat. Chelsea number one Petr Cech is widely regarded as the best in the business and it is no coincidence his return from a serious head injury has ushered in the Blues' four-pronged trophy assault. United counterpart Edwin van der Sar has finally helped fill the void left by the legendary Peter Schmeichel at Old Trafford, but high-profile mistakes against Roma and Portsmouth show he can be prone to the odd lapse in concentration.
BEWARE OF THE DROG
Didier Drogba has been the focal point of the Chelsea attack ever since he signed almost three years ago. Always a physical presence able to bring others into the game, this season has seen him emerge as one of the most feared goalscorers on the planet. He also proved he was the man for the big occasion with a match-winning performance in the Carling Cup final against Arsenal, meaning United must limit his influence at Wembley. However, with a defensive crisis on their hands, their ability to do that is very much open to question.
PAST BATTLES
We look at the 10 past encounters between the sides in this competition, from most recent to the very first.
March 10, 1999 - FA Cup quarter-final replay: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 2
A brace from Dwight Yorke, with one goal scored in each half, took United into the FA Cup semi-finals in their treble-winning season in a Stamford Bridge replay. The initial tie at Old Trafford on March 7 finished goalless, with Paul Scholes and Roberto di Matteo sent off.
January 4, 1998 - FA Cup third round: Chelsea 3 Manchester United 5
A bizarre tie which United led 5-0 with 74 minutes played after a brace apiece from David Beckham and Andy Cole and one more from Teddy Sheringham before Graeme Le Saux's goal and a double from Gianluca Vialli briefly raised the possibility of a comeback.
March 31, 1996 - FA Cup semi-final: Manchester United 2 Chelsea 1
United moved a step closer to an historic second domestic double with this semi-final win at Villa Park. Andy Cole and David Beckham scored the Red Devils' goals with Ruud Gullit grabbing the Chelsea reply.
May 14, 1994 - FA Cup final: Manchester United 4 Chelsea 0
Manchester United completed the domestic double for the first time in their history with a comfortable win. Two penalties in six minutes from Eric Cantona (60 and 66) and further goals from Mark Hughes and Brian McClair did the damage.
January 30, 1988 - FA Cup fourth round: Manchester United 2 Chelsea 0
Norman Whiteside and Brian McClair continued United's cup superiority over Chelsea, but they were eliminated in the next round by Arsenal.
January 15, 1979 - FA Cup third round: Manchester United 3 Chelsea 0
United made easy work of this tie with goals from Steve Coppell, Jimmy Greenhoff and Ashley Grimes at Old Trafford. Dave Sexton's team reached the cup final, this time losing to a late Alan Sunderland goal in a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal.
March 16, 1963 - FA Cup fifth round: Manchester United 2 Chelsea 1
This was the season where the United trio of Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best came together for the first time, and the Red Devils went on from this tie to win the FA Cup, beating Leicester in the final. Albert Quixall and Law got the United goals, Dennis Sorrell replying for Chelsea.
March 4, 1950 - FA Cup quarter-final: Chelsea 2 Manchester United 0
Chelsea's only FA Cup victory over United, as Roy Bentley and Bobby Campbell scored for the Blues in front of a crowd of over 70,000 at Stamford Bridge.
February 1, 1908 - FA Cup second round: Manchester United 1 Chelsea 0
The first meeting of the sides was won by United thanks to a Sandy Turnbull goal at their old Bank Street ground. United finished the season by winning the league title for the first time in their history.
THE GAFFERS
How the two managers shape up...
PLAYING RECORD
Ferguson had a solid club career in Scotland, scoring 167 goals in 327 appearances. His most prolific spell came at Dunfermline where he netted 66 times in 88 appearances. He became the record Scottish signing when he moved to Rangers for £65,000 in 1967. (6/10)
Mourinho had a generally unsuccessful playing career at small clubs in Portugal. It was clear he was keen on a coaching role instead, as he regularly prepared match reports for his father's teams. (2/10)
COACHING CAREER
Ferguson is the most successful manager in English football history, winning more trophies than any other manager. The Scot began to make his mark in the managerial world when he was appointed boss at Aberdeen, picking up 10 trophies during his eight years at the club.
He was given the Manchester United job in 1986 on the back of his success in Scotland and although he struggled in his early days, he has gone on to pick up 18 major trophies, including the first ever treble by an English club. He is also the only manager to lead his team to three consecutive league championships in the English top flight. (9/10)
Mourinho has earned himself a reputation as one of the best managers in Europe as a result of his success with Porto and Chelsea. He won the treble of league, cup and UEFA cup in his first season in charge of Porto, followed by a league and Champions League double the following year.
Mourinho replaced Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea in 2004 and delivered the club's first league championship for 50 years in his debut season, as well as the League Cup. He retained the Premiership last season and won the league cup for a second time earlier this year. (8/10)
MAN MANAGEMENT
Ferguson is a strong advocate that no player is bigger than the club, evidenced most recently by David Beckham's move to Real Madrid in 2003 and Ruud van Nistelrooy's departure last season. Ferguson's "hairdryer" treatment in the dressing room is renowned and the hard disciplinary line he takes has been mentioned as one of the key factors behind United's success. (8/10)
Mourinho is famous for his self-belief and has been a controversial figure at times, claiming he was "the special one" on his arrival at Stamford Bridge. He is willing to make unpopular selection decisions and has regularly left Andriy Shevchenko, the club's record signing, on the bench. He has remained focused despite speculation of a rift with Roman Abramovich. (9/10)
TACTICS
Ferguson has always favoured free-flowing, attacking football. His use of wingers has caused teams problems for many years, never more so than this season when Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs have terrorised opposition defences.
United's defence has also been strong this season, largely due to the sensational form of Nemanja Vidic in his second season at the club. With three of their attackers nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award and the defence keeping it tight at the other end, Ferguson has found the perfect balance. (9/10)
Mourinho prefers a more conservative approach. He packs the central midfield with quality in the hope of grinding teams down, a style that has been criticised by football purists but has proved to be very effective.
In Didier Drogba they have the Premiership's top goalscorer who has provided the firepower for much of their success. Petr Cech has been a fantastic last line of defence for the Blues and the combination of the two has made Chelsea a very difficult team to beat. (8/10)
JOB PROSPECTS
Ferguson endured calls for him to step down in recent years after a relative lack of success but has silenced the doubters with a stunning return to form this year. He is a hero among United fans and surely will stay at the club for as long he desires. (10/10)
Surprisingly, Chelsea's semi-final victory over Blackburn was greeted with comments by Mourinho expressing uncertainty over his future. After weeks of reports on a rift between Abramovich and Mourinho, the club insisted the manager would not be sacked but it would not be a surprise if he moved on. (7/10)
TOTALS
Ferguson 42/50
Mourinho 34/50
Chelsea are the product of sharp buys, great management and supreme self belief. United are more home-grown talent, carefully nurtured...and a history of success.
For both sides though, the new Wembley will be a battleground where neither team will want to lose – and neither side are clear favourites.
So although the stage will be magnificent for the final rites in the passage of this season's domestic competitions, we should look forward to a match dominated by pragmatism rather than panache.
Those with short memories will flag up last season's final between Liverpool and West Ham as an example of a thrilling match but think back before then.
Since the 1990s, it has been pretty dreary stuff - the FA's own website has four classic finals from the 1980s, just 1990 from the next decade, when United and Crystal Palace drew 3-3, until last season's draw by the same score.
In the intervening 15 years, FA Cup finals have been affairs where either one side has dominated comprehensively, or else tense games where both teams have cancelled each other out.
It seems hugely likely that the latter case will apply again this season - and even more so because the double will be up for grabs.
At least there should be plenty of entertainment off the pitch. By branding his fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo "uneducated", and suggesting the winger must have had a "difficult childhood", Mourinho has crossed the invisible line.
It is one thing for managers to slate each other in the so-called mind games they like to play; it is quite another to so blatantly insult a player from another club.
As usual though, Mourinho will have calculated the effect of his words. The Chelsea manager must believe there is nothing to be lost by winding up his opponents' most dangerous player - indeed, that there may be much to gain by trying to put him off his stride.
Sir Alex Ferguson has done his best to protect his player by claiming Mourinho should face disciplinary action for insinuating there is some sort of conspiracy against Chelsea.
Even so, he should be wary of the wiles of Mourinho. Manchester United may be advocates of fast, flowing, dynamic football that is so easy on the eye, but Ferguson should consider applying the brakes to outwit his rival.
If United can keep it tight and rely on the surging breaks of Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, that should provide them with the best obstacle to break up Chelsea's battering-ram approach.
Chelsea's best hope is sticking to the plan that has brought them so many 1-0 victories this season: i.e. an all-powerful defence, marauding midfielders and strong strikers that present their opponents with a force so relentless that even the best usual succumb to the power they are faced with.
In tactical terms, therefore, we can expect a no-frills match, and no thrills either.
The real entertainment will be on the sidelines as Ferguson and Mourinho go head to head in a final for the first time.
And whoever wins, one can be sure that the taste of defeat will be unbearably bitter for the loser.
Continues...
CUP HISTORY
Manchester United have won the FA Cup a record 11 times, their most recent success coming in 2004. Chelsea have three victories to their name, including the last cup final to be played at the old Wembley in 2000. The clubs have met 10 times in FA Cup combat, with United boasting eight victories to Chelsea's one. They last met in the final in 1994 when United thrashed the Blues 4-0. Their most recent FA Cup meeting came in the 1999 quarter-final, when United won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge en route to the treble. United are making their third appearance in the final in four seasons. The last time Chelsea reached the final was in 2002, when they lost to Arsenal.
BIG FINAL EXPERIENCE
United have the edge in cup final experience after reaching 30 in all competitions - twice as many as Chelsea. United have won 18 of those finals, including two European Cup wins. Chelsea have been victorious in 10 of their cup final appearances, including two European Cup Winners' Cup successes. Both teams have reached finals in recent years. Chelsea have already picked up the Carling Cup this season, the second time they have won the trophy in three years. United beat Wigan in the interim. United have reached the FA Cup final 17 times, with Chelsea making seven appearances.
PLAYER EXPERIENCE
None of the Chelsea forwards have played in an FA Cup final, although Shevchenko has played at Wembley for Ukraine against England in a friendly before the stadium was knocked down in 2000. England won the game 2-0.
United's strikers have more experience in FA Cup finals with Rooney starring in the 2005 showpiece at the Millennium Stadium by hitting a post and scoring in the penalty shoot-out.
Sadly for Rooney, he ended up with a losers medal as Arsenal were the victors 5-4 on penalties.
Solskjaer is the only striker on show to have memories of the old Wembley.
The 34-year-old started the 1999 FA Cup against Newcastle as a centre forward. He lasted only nine minutes there before Roy Keane got injured and Teddy Sheringham was brought on.
The versatile Norwegian switched to the right flank and United went on to win 2-0 on the second leg of their treble campaign.
Solskjaer won his second FA Cup medal when he came on as a sub in the 3-0 FA Cup Final win against Millwall at the Millennium Stadium in 2004.
Continues...THE TEAMS
MANAGERS
Jose Mourinho has arguably the most impressive managerial record in Europe in recent years. The Portuguese has picked up nine trophies in Portugal and England over the past four years. The FA Cup is the only domestic trophy he has failed to win in his time with Porto and Chelsea. He won a treble with Porto in 2003 and then achieved the unique feat of winning the UEFA Cup and Champions League in consecutive years. Mourinho delivered Chelsea's first league championship for 50 years as well as the league cup in his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge. Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in English football history. Since arriving at Old Trafford 20 years ago, Ferguson has won 16 trophies, including the 1999 treble. He also picked up 10 trophies in Scotland with Aberdeen and St Mirren. United had been off the pace in the league for the past few years as they struggled to compete with Chelsea but have returned to the fore this term.
SQUADS
Chelsea's squad depth is well documented, with Mourinho's bench usually costing more than the entire opposition team. The Blues can regularly call on a host of internationals to come to the rescue if need be. United seem slightly thin on the ground in comparison, especially in defence. Chelsea have been buoyed by the return of Joe Cole to the starting line-up and crucially they have Petr Cech and captain John Terry back to their best after suffering serious injuries earlier in the season. Both have been key to Chelsea's miserly defensive record and are vital to the side as they aim for an unprecedented quadruple.
STYLES
The final should be an interesting clash of styles. It will be the flair of United against the ruthless efficiency of Chelsea. United have ripped teams apart with their fast-paced attacking football this season. They like to get the ball wide to their excellent wingers Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs, who are a nightmare for opposition full-backs to handle. Chelsea, on the other hand, wear teams down with their strong central midfield trio of Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Michael Essien and in Didier Drogba they have the Premiership's leading scorer who has blossomed this year. Both teams have impressive defences but will be severely tested by some of the league's top attackers.
FORM
Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko have been the main attacking selections in Chelsea's run to the final with five starts each.
Mourinho rotated his team in the third round against Macclesfield before his top two hitmen paired up against Nottingham Forest and, within 21 minutes, both had grabbed their first goals of the campaign.
Their partnership continued with a goal each versus Norwich in round four.
Salomon Kalou made a rare start for the Blues in the 6-1 win over lowly Macclesfield but has contributed from the substitutes' bench with the all-important equaliser with five minutes remaining in the quarter-final tie against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
Joe Cole made his first FA Cup appearance of the season after a foot injury with a start against Blackburn at Old Trafford in the semi-final.
Wayne Rooney has been Manchester United's main man on the road to Wembley this season. In four starts and two substitute appearances Rooney has scored six goals, with two braces against Portsmouth in round four and the semi-final against Watford at Villa Park.
Louis Saha's injury nightmare continues and the Frenchman's involvement in the cup has been limited to just two starts with his sole strike coming in the fifth round replay against Reading.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also scored in the frantic opening six minutes at the Madejski Stadium when United went three up. Solskjaer got United's FA Cup campaign off to a winning start with a typical last-gasp winner against Aston Villa in round three.
Alan Smith has come back from injury just at the right time for United and could be in contention for a final berth after his impressive performance against Watford in the semi-final.
ATTRIBUTES
Drogba offers Chelsea pace and power, giving their defence the option to send the ball through the centre or alternatively into the channels.
When Shevchenko is on song, defences must beware as the Ukrainian can be a destructive striker with his variety of goals from around the box.
Kalou brings additional pace which is used when defences begin to tire while Joe Cole plays deep and has a wide array of skills.
Saha is in the mould of Drogba when he is fit and is predominately stronger on his left side, while Rooney provides the match-winning magic and explosive power.
Solskjaer is lethal from the substitutes' bench with his predatory instincts in the box and Alan Smith likes the physical challenge and is a fine hold-up player.
MANAGER'S SELECTION
Mourinho will turn to his big guns for his first FA Cup final and the Drogba/Shevchenko partnership will be unleashed on the United defence, fitness permitting.
Drogba will occupy spaces between the two centre-halves or in the channels while Shevchenko will at times come deep for the ball or pounce in the box when the chance arises.
Sir Alex Ferguson will look to extend United's record to 12 FA Cup successes and the partnership of Rooney and Saha will be reunited providing the vulnerable Frenchman is fit to play.
Rooney will occupy the link position or even start from the left flank and drift into the game, with Saha playing on the last man, hoping to stretch the game for Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes to gain space.
Continues...
THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY
We examine how both sides progressed through the rounds.
THIRD ROUND
Chelsea 6 Macclesfield 1
Frank Lampard opened the scoring after 16 minutes only for John Murphy to slot home a shock 40th-minute equaliser. Parity lasted less than 90 seconds as Lampard scored his second. The game was up when Tommy Lee saw red after conceding a penalty. Lampard completed his first Chelsea hat-trick from the spot before Shaun Wright-Phillips, Mikel John Obi and Ricardo Carvalho added gloss to the scoreline.
Man Utd 2 Aston Villa 1
On-loan Henrik Larsson celebrated his United debut with a stunning volleyed opener 10 minutes after half-time, but he looked like being denied a winning start when Milan Baros came off the bench to level after 74 minutes. However, United's own super-sub Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored a typical stoppage-time goal when his shot squirmed under Gabor Kiraly.
FOURTH ROUND
Chelsea 3 Nottingham Forest 0
Another easy Chelsea win against lower league opponents was kick-started by Andriy Shevchenko's ninth-minute volley, which deflected in off Forest's John Curtis. The game was up before the interval as Didier Drogba curled home a 25-yard free-kick in the 18th minute before Mikel poked the ball home in first-half stoppage-time.
Man Utd 2 Portsmouth 1
United were once again made to work hard for victory after Nemanja Vidic's headed goal was not given despite crossing the line before being cleared by Pedro Mendes. It took until the 77th minute for Wayne Rooney to tap home Ryan Giggs' cross before the United striker's inch-perfect chip appeared to end the Pompey resistance. However, Kanu's deflected consolation made it a nervy final three minutes.
FIFTH ROUND
Chelsea 4 Norwich 0
Despite the scoreline, Chelsea were made to work a lot harder against Championship opposition and were fortunate not to be behind when Dickson Etuhu hit the inside of the post. Wright-Phillips' 39th-minute opener also owed much to luck, taking a deflection on its way in. Drogba's 51st-minute turn and shot, and stoppage-time efforts from substitutes Michael Essien and Andriy Shevchenko wrapped up the scoring.
Man Utd 1 Reading 1; Reading 2 Man Utd 3
Both managers fielded largely second-string sides at Old Trafford where Michael Carrick fired United ahead from outside the box before Brynjar Gunnarsson headed in a surprise equaliser. Goalkeeper Adam Federici was the star of the show with a brilliant display in a rare start for the Royals. It was ironic therefore that his howler sparked a United siege in the replay, Gabriel Heinze's second-minute shot squirming under the keeper's body. Louis Saha volleyed in a second and Solskjaer broke the offside trap to score a third before six minutes had been played. However, Reading were desperately unlucky not to take the game to extra-time after Dave Kitson pulled one back, substitute Leroy Lita netted with six minutes remaining and Gunnarsson struck the crossbar.
QUARTER-FINALS
Chelsea 3 Tottenham 3; Tottenham 1 Chelsea 2
A thrilling game at Stamford Bridge saw Dimitar Berbatov smash Spurs ahead, Lampard level, but Essien's own goal and Hossam Ghaly's opportunist effort hand the visitors a 3-1 advantage. Staring at a first domestic home defeat as Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho went for broke. Spurs' withdrawal of Berbatov was tantamount to suicide as Lampard and substitute Salomon Kalou rescued a draw - though Jermain Defoe did hit the bar late on. The replay was surprisingly comfortable for Chelsea, Shevchenko's sublime angled drive and Wright-Phillips' volley setting up a win that was never really in doubt, even when Robbie Keane pulled one back from the spot.
Middlesbrough 2 Man Utd 2; Man Utd 1 Middlesbrough 0
Controversy reigned at the Riverside as Cristiano's penalty spared United a 2-1 defeat. Rooney drove the visitors ahead but Lee Cattermole's volley on the stroke of half-time and George Boateng's header two minutes after the restart turned the tie on its head. However, Boateng was harshly adjudged to have deliberately handled Rio Ferdinand's header and Ronaldo did the rest. An ill-tempered replay was settled by another Ronaldo spot-kick, this one indisputable after the Portugal winger was chopped down by Jonathan Woodgate. James Morrison then saw red for a lunge on Ronaldo, with both benches becoming involved in some ugly scenes late on.
SEMI-FINALS
Blackburn 1 Chelsea 2 (aet)
Lampard broke the offside trap to fire an angled shot past Brad Friedel after just 16 minutes at Old Trafford as Chelsea dominated. But Shevchenko's embarrassing air shot inspired a Rovers fightback, Jason Roberts deflecting in Morten Gamst Pedersen's free-kick for his first Blackburn goal. Pedersen missed a free header in normal time, and Michael Ballack made him pay with a left-foot winner in the 109th minute.
Watford 1 Manchester United 4
An inspired Rooney blasted United in front after just six minutes but Watford hit back to level thanks to Hameur Bouazza's overhead kick 20 minutes later. But it took just two minutes for Rooney to set up Ronaldo for an easy tap-in and the England striker all-but wrapped up the win with an equally-straightforward finish. There was still time for Kieran Richardson to chip in a fourth.
Continues...
THE VITAL BATTLES
We look at how each team can avoid their day turning into a nightmare.
STOPPING RONALDO AND ROONEY
Shutting down two players out of 11 seems simple. But such are the talents of Manchester United's two most precious assets that they are often unplayable. The good news for Chelsea is that neither has ever scored against them, thanks largely to the Blues' near-impenetrable defence. The bad news is that Rooney in particular reserves his best performances for the biggest games. As for Ronaldo, Chelsea will be particularly keen to have Ashley Cole available, with the England left-back enjoying an impressive record when pitted against the Portugal winger.
WINNING THE MIDFIELD BATTLE
There is a good reason why this is one of the biggest cliches in football and it will be no different at Wembley. United's midfield has been by far the most dynamic in the Premiership this season with Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick boasting a host of goals and assists for the Red Devils. Chelsea began the season with a midfield that placed the emphasis very much on strength and stability. Out went Arjen Robben, Damien Duff and Joe Cole, as the Blues battered opponents into submission. Cole's return from injury has resulted in a more fluid system but they may need to revert to a more muscular approach to nullify United's threat.
SAFE HANDS?
Such a high-profile game puts goalkeepers under the microscope like never before and the slightest mistake or moment of inspiration could make the difference between victory and defeat. Chelsea number one Petr Cech is widely regarded as the best in the business and it is no coincidence his return from a serious head injury has ushered in the Blues' four-pronged trophy assault. United counterpart Edwin van der Sar has finally helped fill the void left by the legendary Peter Schmeichel at Old Trafford, but high-profile mistakes against Roma and Portsmouth show he can be prone to the odd lapse in concentration.
BEWARE OF THE DROG
Didier Drogba has been the focal point of the Chelsea attack ever since he signed almost three years ago. Always a physical presence able to bring others into the game, this season has seen him emerge as one of the most feared goalscorers on the planet. He also proved he was the man for the big occasion with a match-winning performance in the Carling Cup final against Arsenal, meaning United must limit his influence at Wembley. However, with a defensive crisis on their hands, their ability to do that is very much open to question.
PAST BATTLES
We look at the 10 past encounters between the sides in this competition, from most recent to the very first.
March 10, 1999 - FA Cup quarter-final replay: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 2
A brace from Dwight Yorke, with one goal scored in each half, took United into the FA Cup semi-finals in their treble-winning season in a Stamford Bridge replay. The initial tie at Old Trafford on March 7 finished goalless, with Paul Scholes and Roberto di Matteo sent off.
January 4, 1998 - FA Cup third round: Chelsea 3 Manchester United 5
A bizarre tie which United led 5-0 with 74 minutes played after a brace apiece from David Beckham and Andy Cole and one more from Teddy Sheringham before Graeme Le Saux's goal and a double from Gianluca Vialli briefly raised the possibility of a comeback.
March 31, 1996 - FA Cup semi-final: Manchester United 2 Chelsea 1
United moved a step closer to an historic second domestic double with this semi-final win at Villa Park. Andy Cole and David Beckham scored the Red Devils' goals with Ruud Gullit grabbing the Chelsea reply.
May 14, 1994 - FA Cup final: Manchester United 4 Chelsea 0
Manchester United completed the domestic double for the first time in their history with a comfortable win. Two penalties in six minutes from Eric Cantona (60 and 66) and further goals from Mark Hughes and Brian McClair did the damage.
January 30, 1988 - FA Cup fourth round: Manchester United 2 Chelsea 0
Norman Whiteside and Brian McClair continued United's cup superiority over Chelsea, but they were eliminated in the next round by Arsenal.
January 15, 1979 - FA Cup third round: Manchester United 3 Chelsea 0
United made easy work of this tie with goals from Steve Coppell, Jimmy Greenhoff and Ashley Grimes at Old Trafford. Dave Sexton's team reached the cup final, this time losing to a late Alan Sunderland goal in a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal.
March 16, 1963 - FA Cup fifth round: Manchester United 2 Chelsea 1
This was the season where the United trio of Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best came together for the first time, and the Red Devils went on from this tie to win the FA Cup, beating Leicester in the final. Albert Quixall and Law got the United goals, Dennis Sorrell replying for Chelsea.
March 4, 1950 - FA Cup quarter-final: Chelsea 2 Manchester United 0
Chelsea's only FA Cup victory over United, as Roy Bentley and Bobby Campbell scored for the Blues in front of a crowd of over 70,000 at Stamford Bridge.
February 1, 1908 - FA Cup second round: Manchester United 1 Chelsea 0
The first meeting of the sides was won by United thanks to a Sandy Turnbull goal at their old Bank Street ground. United finished the season by winning the league title for the first time in their history.
THE GAFFERS
How the two managers shape up...
PLAYING RECORD
Ferguson had a solid club career in Scotland, scoring 167 goals in 327 appearances. His most prolific spell came at Dunfermline where he netted 66 times in 88 appearances. He became the record Scottish signing when he moved to Rangers for £65,000 in 1967. (6/10)
Mourinho had a generally unsuccessful playing career at small clubs in Portugal. It was clear he was keen on a coaching role instead, as he regularly prepared match reports for his father's teams. (2/10)
COACHING CAREER
Ferguson is the most successful manager in English football history, winning more trophies than any other manager. The Scot began to make his mark in the managerial world when he was appointed boss at Aberdeen, picking up 10 trophies during his eight years at the club.
He was given the Manchester United job in 1986 on the back of his success in Scotland and although he struggled in his early days, he has gone on to pick up 18 major trophies, including the first ever treble by an English club. He is also the only manager to lead his team to three consecutive league championships in the English top flight. (9/10)
Mourinho has earned himself a reputation as one of the best managers in Europe as a result of his success with Porto and Chelsea. He won the treble of league, cup and UEFA cup in his first season in charge of Porto, followed by a league and Champions League double the following year.
Mourinho replaced Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea in 2004 and delivered the club's first league championship for 50 years in his debut season, as well as the League Cup. He retained the Premiership last season and won the league cup for a second time earlier this year. (8/10)
MAN MANAGEMENT
Ferguson is a strong advocate that no player is bigger than the club, evidenced most recently by David Beckham's move to Real Madrid in 2003 and Ruud van Nistelrooy's departure last season. Ferguson's "hairdryer" treatment in the dressing room is renowned and the hard disciplinary line he takes has been mentioned as one of the key factors behind United's success. (8/10)
Mourinho is famous for his self-belief and has been a controversial figure at times, claiming he was "the special one" on his arrival at Stamford Bridge. He is willing to make unpopular selection decisions and has regularly left Andriy Shevchenko, the club's record signing, on the bench. He has remained focused despite speculation of a rift with Roman Abramovich. (9/10)
TACTICS
Ferguson has always favoured free-flowing, attacking football. His use of wingers has caused teams problems for many years, never more so than this season when Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs have terrorised opposition defences.
United's defence has also been strong this season, largely due to the sensational form of Nemanja Vidic in his second season at the club. With three of their attackers nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award and the defence keeping it tight at the other end, Ferguson has found the perfect balance. (9/10)
Mourinho prefers a more conservative approach. He packs the central midfield with quality in the hope of grinding teams down, a style that has been criticised by football purists but has proved to be very effective.
In Didier Drogba they have the Premiership's top goalscorer who has provided the firepower for much of their success. Petr Cech has been a fantastic last line of defence for the Blues and the combination of the two has made Chelsea a very difficult team to beat. (8/10)
JOB PROSPECTS
Ferguson endured calls for him to step down in recent years after a relative lack of success but has silenced the doubters with a stunning return to form this year. He is a hero among United fans and surely will stay at the club for as long he desires. (10/10)
Surprisingly, Chelsea's semi-final victory over Blackburn was greeted with comments by Mourinho expressing uncertainty over his future. After weeks of reports on a rift between Abramovich and Mourinho, the club insisted the manager would not be sacked but it would not be a surprise if he moved on. (7/10)
TOTALS
Ferguson 42/50
Mourinho 34/50
Related Articles
Pulis disappointed by Cup turnout
Sherwood blames Spurs injuries for FA Cup exit
