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.
Page 3 of 5 | Single page
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...
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...
Related Articles
Pulis disappointed by Cup turnout
Sherwood blames Spurs injuries for FA Cup exit
