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Chelsea
Chelsea
Eto'o (17)
Eto'o (45)
Eto'o (49)
3
Man Utd
Hernandez (78)
Manchester United
1
Barclays Premier League

Stamford Bridge

Sun 19 Jan 2014 16:00 (Attendance: 41,465)

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PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V MANCHESTER UNITED

Sunday's home game brings a reverse of the first away game of the season. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton weigh up the prospects as the league champions come calling…


TALKING POINTS
Chelsea have taken 31 points from the last 33 available at Stamford Bridge. A victory on Sunday against Manchester United would be the Blues' 100th from 142 Premier League matches under Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese coach's unbeaten home record in the top flight currently stands at an equally remarkable 70.

KEY STAT
Manchester United have taken five points from a possible 24 in games against the current top eight.


The Old Trafford outfit recently suffered three successive defeats for the first time since 2001. The Red Devils' goal difference against their rivals for a European finish suggests they are currently punching above their weight in the league, and perhaps that is because they are fairing notably better against inferior opposition.

Top seven mini-league *
Top Pld Gd Pts
1 Man City 6 +14 15
2 Chelsea 6 +1 9
3 Everton 6 0 9
4 Arsenal 6 -1 8
5 Liverpool 6 +2 7
6 Tottenham 7 -11 6
7 Man Utd 7 -5 5
*Points won from games between the teams in the current top seven


All the top seven Barclays Premier League sides won last weekend, suggesting that the tournament is not quite as balanced as it might be. Chelsea will now aim to extend the five-point gap to the side in fifth as the second half of the season progresses, in order to secure a Champions League place.

When neutrals and opponents start muttering about 'grinding' and the 'Chelsea machine' you can start believing we have our Mourinho era back. Fernando Torres's outstanding effort in the 2-0 win at the KC Stadium means he now has three goals in his last six league games. Our third successive shutout on the road meant Petr Cech duly eased ahead of fellow Chelsea legend Peter Bonetti to register his 209th clean sheet.

By coincidence 209 is the same total the club's all-time top scorer Frank Lampard has registered so far. What a rare privilege to be a fan of Chelsea during such a period.

There is also a new face to welcome back to the fold: Portugal's 2012/13 player of the year, Nemanja Matic. The Serbia international is the 10th prodigal son to return to Stamford Bridge.

The full list is: Alec Cheyne, who left in 1932 and returned in 1934; Allan Harris 1964, 1966; Charlie Cooke 1972, 1974; Alan Hudson 1974, 1983; Peter Osgood 1974, 1978; John Hollins 1975, 1983; Steve Wicks 1979, 1986; Nigel Spackman 1987, 1992; Graeme Le Saux 1993, 1997; and Matic 2011, 2014.

Any media commentator rushing to judgment on the money the Blues received and paid out for the 25-year-old might ponder that, for example, Arsenal sold Martin Keown in 1986 for £200,000 and bought him back in 1993 for 10 times that amount. And how Sunday's opponents, United, could do with the £30m-plus rated centre-back Gerard Pique, who they sold back to Camp Nou for virtually the same fee they paid Barcelona.

Meantime, while the Special One has been able to add Matic to his tactical preparations for Sunday this week, Man United's Chosen One and his assistant Phil Neville appear to have been on an 'If it's Tuesday it must be Belgium' scouting mission around European football grounds.

When Sir Alex Ferguson went to watch a player it was an indication the end game in a transfer was close. His successor does things differently. New scouts were among the staff David Moyes sensibly brought with him, and he has replaced most of Ferguson's backroom staff. He now clearly feels the need to refresh his playing personnel.

It is a busy few days ahead for Man United with a crucial Capital One Cup semi-final second leg next week to factor in. They returned to winning ways last weekend, making it an impressive five victories from six matches in the league.

Three consecutive 1-2 defeats in all competitions at the start of the year had given the impression the 'bus that waits for no one' was forcing its passengers to get out and walk. West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Newcastle and Swansea have won at Old Trafford for the first time in decades or, in the Swans' case, ever.

Moyes, who has pitted his wits against Chelsea more than any other team, has never beaten a Mourinho side, nor won in the league at the Bridge, Arsenal or Anfield.

Moyes


The Scot has achieved virtually the same record he had with Everton at last season's mid-point: 34 from 19 with the Red Devils, compared to 33 from 19 in 2012/13. Man United had amassed 46 in the last campaign; Everton under Roberto Martinez had 37 after 19 games this season.

Chelsea's 46 points after 21 matches is five better than last season's campaign.

Arsenal and Manchester City are hot favourites to take all three points again from their matches this weekend, yet Fulham have managed consecutive score draws at Emirates and City were stunned by a 2-3 defeat at Cardiff earlier this season. In the next batch of league games both the top two plays away (at Southampton and Spurs respectively), while Chelsea host West Ham.


Barclays Premier League fixtures
Saturday
Sunderland v Southampton 12.45pm - BT Sport
Arsenal v Fulham 3pm
Crystal Palace v Stoke 3pm
Manchester City v Cardiff 3pm
Norwich v Hull 3pm
West Ham v Newcastle 3pm
Liverpool v Aston Villa 5.30pm - Sky Sports
Sunday
Swansea v Tottenham 1.30pm - Sky Sports
Chelsea v Manchester United 4pm - Sky Sports
Monday
West Brom v Everton 8pm - Sky Sports

Barclays Premier League top 10
Top Pld Gd Pts
1 Arsenal 21 +22 48
2 Man City 21 +36 47
3 Chelsea 21 +21 46
4 Liverpool 21 +25 42
5 Everton 21 +15 41
6 Tottenham 21 +1 40
7 Man United 21 +11 37
8 Newcastle 21 +2 33
9 Southampton 21 +4 30
10 Hull 21 -5 23


 

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PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V MANCHESTER UNITED

TACTICAL BRIEF
Frank Lampard may be available on Sunday for the first time since the win over Liverpool at the end of December. Man United have a number of players in doubt or already ruled out, including key players Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney.

David Moyes has a crucial decision to make who will play right-back and face Chelsea's man-of-the-moment, Eden Hazard. Fabio is suspended but in reality the likely candidates were always his brother Rafael, who sometimes lacks discipline, or Chris Smalling, who has been favoured for that position at the Etihad and White Hart Lane this season.

Utility man Phil Jones, who like centre-backs Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand may be involved after injury, is another possibility. Should Evans and Ferdinand not be fit, Jones or Smalling will be shunted into the centre to partner Nemanja Vidic.

This is another key area: during United's recent three-game losing streak there was a sense that teams who drive at the heart of their defence enjoy some return. One source of the problem may be the lack of well-organised defensive shield in a midfield that can also initiate attacks.

This is an area where they sometimes don't dominate opponents, despite the return of Michael Carrick (pictured below) and - happily, after his serious illness - Darren Fletcher. The deficiency was acknowledged as long ago as 2012 by Sir Alex Ferguson when he coaxed Paul Scholes out of retirement and extended Ryan Giggs's contract.

Chelsea v Man U


Summer signing Marouane Fellaini has qualities but not those the Red Devils arguably required there. In Moyes's system at Everton the Belgian often sat behind the sole striker in a 4-4-1-1/4-5-1 formation, acting as a ball magnet to his team, spraying it to teammates on the flanks, dropping deep when required.

United are not set up to channel everything through one player. At home to Swansea Moyes asked his team to raise the tempo, press quicker in the opposition half, and moved the impressive teenager Adnan Januzaj wide left, Shinji Kagawa playing more centrally as a no.10.

Those two may encounter Chelsea's newest signing, 6ft 4in midfield interceptor Nemanja Matic, who faced Man United with previous club Benfica. He came on as a second half substitute twice in the 2011/12 Champions League group stage as Jorge Jesus sought to close out games; both finished as score draws. It was suggested over last summer United had seen enough to want to sign him.

Left-footed, physically and mentally resilient, Matic ticks all the boxes to play as the defensive midfielder in a 4-3-3 should Mourinho wish you move in that direction. He can also play as the more creative of two in the centre. His aerial dominance adds to set plays at either end.

In Fellaini's and Rooney's central absence a massive percentage of United's attacks come from their right wing, very few through the middle - a break from the last few seasons under Ferguson. Critics have pointed to the number of crosses that continue to be fired in despite no real replacement for sidelined Van Persie's aerial strength.

Januzaj has been an enormous positive for the Red Devils. He is little known and therefore unpredictable, skilful and keen to take players on, but his keenness to deliver a breakthrough has led to three bookings for simulation in just a few months.

United's full-backs are asked to push on, though not quite Leighton Baines-style, as their attacking midfielders sometimes play quite narrow. This has worked in the past as the Red Devils created the impression of waves of attacks and often overwhelmed opponents.

However there is now more of a concern about the ability of the backs to deliver offensively and to recover their defensive posts when possession is lost. This is heightened if one of their usual deep-lying midfielders, Tom Cleverley, joins the attack too, leaving them short of personnel on rapid counter-attacks. If confidence dips United tend to play in front of teams rather than getting in behind them.

Chelsea under José Mourinho are designed to exploit gaps, with flexibility and pace of thought and movement in whoever plays in the front four. As usual the Blues will look to pounce on the ball high up the field, capitalising on individual mistakes. Hazard, Willian, Oscar and Fernando Torres are all in fine form. Juan Mata also likes facing United: he has netted twice and assisted five goals in nine meetings with them.

United have not scored in any of our last three meetings in all competitions but have a better away record this season than Chelsea, with six wins in 10 compared to the Blues' five in 11. However, they have conceded as many on the road as West Ham and more than Aston Villa.

Only Man City have a better home record than the Pensioners, who are averaging more than two goals per game at the Bridge.

- If Chelsea win, Coral will double the odds on all bets placed through www.coral.co.uk on Chelsea to beat Manchester United this Sunday!

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PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V MANCHESTER UNITED

WE HAVE HISTORY
This fixture has been a significant event in the football calendar ever since 1905/06 when the two promotion-chasing sides drew crowds of 35,000 to Clayton and, sensationally, 67,000 to Stamford Bridge.

Both games were drawn, the one in Manchester only because the Pensioners' giant keeper Willie Foulke saved Bob Bonthron's penalty. Berated by his manager after the miss, Bonthron complained Foulke filled the goal to such an extent there was nowhere to aim his kick.

Manchester United were the first side faced by new manger Jose Mourinho in his opening spell at Chelsea on 15 August 2004. The last time the Portuguese had faced Sir Alex Ferguson he was dancing a jog as his Porto team registered a crucial last-minute goal at Old Trafford en route to winning the 2003/04 Champions League.

The Sunday kick-off was decided by single scored inside the first 15 minutes. Cameroon utility man Geremi slipped away from Quinton Fortune down the flank and crossed for Didier Drogba. The Ivorian directed a powerful header towards Eidur Gudjohnsen, who tapped home past Tim Howard with ease.

2004


Along with Drogba, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Mateja Kezman, Alexey Smertin, and Petr Cech - preferred to Carlo Cudicini - were making their debut. United were missing several of their regulars and with Roy Keane in defence struggled to create chances against the spirited and well-organised hosts. Paul Scholes flashed a free kick across goal and Diego Forlan flashed a chance high and wide of goal.

Howard denied Drogba an opening day goal with a brave dive at his feet but Chelsea, with Carvalho deployed in midfield, were content to close out the match in a manner that foretold what would be a brilliant first campaign under Mourinho.

Man United's victory at Stamford Bridge in last season's corresponding match ended our 10-match unbeaten Premier League run at home against them since 2002. It was only their second league win in 15 visits to the Fulham Road.

Paul Scholes, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunner Solskjaer were the scorers the previous time the Red Devils came away from SW6 with three points in April 2002.

Chelsea have lost more league games at home (30) and conceded more goals (121) against United than any other club in our history.


Our last 10 league meetings at Stamford Bridge
2003/04 - Chelsea won 1-0
2004/05 - Chelsea won 1-0
2005/06 - Chelsea won 3-0
2006/07 - Drew 0-0
2007/08 - Chelsea won 2-1
2008/09 - Drew 1-1
2009/10 - Chelsea won 1-0
2010/11 - Chelsea won 2-1
2011/12 - Drew 3-3
2012/13 - Man Utd won 3-2


PMB

The reverse fixture this season
26 August 2013 Barclays Premier League
Man Utd....……..….0 Chelsea………..……0
Att: 75,032


Chelsea v Manchester United in all competitions
Games played 169
Chelsea wins 47
United wins 72
Draws 50


Head to head in the League at Stamford Bridge
Games played 71
Chelsea wins 22
United wins 30
Draws 19


Biggest league win at Stamford Bridge for each team
Chelsea 5-0 Man Utd - 03/10/1999
Chelsea 0-4 Man Utd - 29/11/1947


DAYS SINCE
Chelsea lost at home in the Premier League: 382
Man Utd lost away in the Premier League: 119
Arsenal won a trophy: 3,165
Liverpool won the league: 8,660


 

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PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V MANCHESTER UNITED

CHELSEA STATS
The Blues have scored 12 goals in the last 15 minutes of matches this season, more than any other Barclays Premier League club.

Chelsea have won 16 and drawn three of our last 19 home Premier League games, since QPR won at Stamford Bridge on 2 January last year.

Since the November international break, the Blues have won 25 points from a possible 30. Only Man City with 28 have won more in the same period.

Chelsea have gained 14 points from losing positions this season, the best record in the Premier League.

We have the equal tightest defence (with Everton and Arsenal) with 19 goals conceded in 21 games.

We have kept five clean sheets and conceded just one goal in our last six league and cup matches, and four in five in the Premier League.

The Blues are five points up compared to the corresponding 21 fixtures last season.

Jose Mourinho is unbeaten at Stamford Bridge in all 85 domestic games in open play. In the Premier League it's 70 unbeaten.

Last six results
Dec 23 Arsenal (a) D 0-0
Dec 26 Swansea (h) W 1-0
Dec 29 Liverpool (h) W 2-1
Jan 1 Southampton (a) W 3-0
Jan 5 Derby (FA Cup a) W 2-0
Jan 11 Hull (a) W 2-0



Premier League scorers (40)
Hazard 9 (1 pen), Oscar 6, Lampard 4 (1 pen), Torres 4, Eto'o 3, Schürrle 3, Terry 2, Willian 2, own goals 2, Ba 1, Cahill 1, Ivanovic 1, Mikel 1, Ramires 1


League games since
A home win: 0
A home draw: 4
A home defeat: 19


Chelsea's next three games
Sun 26 Jan Stoke (FA Cup) home 3.30pm
Wed 29 Jan West Ham home 7.45pm
Mon 3 Feb Manchester City away 8pm*

*Sat 1 Feb 5.30pm if either team is involved in an FA Cup replay


MILESTONES
Jose Mourinho's next league win will be his 100th in the Premier League. His Chelsea record so far from 141 league games is 99 win, 29 draws and 13 defeats.

Frank Lampard's next converted penalty will be his 50th for the Blues.

Lampard's next goal will be the 250th in his club career (Chelsea 209, West Ham 39, Swansea 1).


MAN UTD STATS
Formed 1878 (as Newton Heath Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway FC)

Major trophies
20 League championships, last in 2013
11 FA Cups, last in 2004
4 League Cups, last in 2010
20 FA Charity/Community Shields (incl 4 shared), last in 2013
3 European Cups, last in 2008
1 European Cup Winners' Cup in 1991
1 UEFA Super Cup in 1991
1 Intercontinental Cup in 1999
1 FIFA Club World Cup in 2008


Despite lying seventh in the Premier League and having lost four of their 11 matches at Old Trafford, Man United do have the third best away record with 20 points from a possible 30. Only Arsenal (25) and Tottenham (22) have won more.

They are unbeaten in seven away in the league since they lost the Manchester derby in September, and have won the last three on their travels.They have won six - at Swansea, Sunderland, Fulham, Aston Villa, Hull and Norwich, drawn two at Cardiff and Tottenham and lost two (both in September) at Liverpool and Man City .

Only Liverpool (24 in 11) and Arsenal (23 in 11) have scored more away goals than Man United's 21 in 10 matches.

Man United haven't lost any of the 10 games when they opened the scoring and have gained 10 points from losing positions, second only to Chelsea.


Manager David Moyes
Days in charge: 245
Played 34
Won 19
Drawn 7
Lost 8


Red Devils' last 10 year league history
2003/04 75 3rd
2004/05 77 3rd
2005/06 83 2nd
2006/07 89 1st
2007/08 87 1st
2008/09 90 1st
2009/10 85 2nd
2010/11 80 1st
2011/12 89 2nd
2012/13 89 1st

Last six results
Dec 26 Hull (a) W 3-2
Dec 28 Norwich (a) W 1-0
Jan 1 Tottenham (h) L 1-2
Jan 5 Swansea (FA Cup h) L 1-2
Jan 7 Sunderland (Capital One Cup a) L 1-2
Jan 11 Swansea (h) W 2-0


Premier League scorers (35)
Rooney 9 (1 pen), Welbeck 8, Van Persie 7 (1 pen), Januzaj 3, Valencia 2, Cleverley 1, Evra 1, Hernandez 1, Smalling 1, Young 1, own goal 1.

PMB

League games since
An away win: 0
An away draw: 3
An away defeat: 7


WINDOW WATCH
Completed January transfers
Chelsea
Ins Bertrand Traore (Bobo-Dioulasso, undisclosed), Nemanja Matic (Benfica, undisclosed)
Outs Bertrand Traore (Vitesse Arnhem, loan), Patrick Bamford (Derby, loan), Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough, loan), Nathaniel Chalobah (Middlesbrough, loan)
Man United
Ins None
Outs None


THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Phil Dowd is making his first appearance at Stamford Bridge since 1 April last year when Man United were beaten 1-0 in the FA Cup quarter-final replay.


OTHERWISE ENGAGED
Fabio is suspended for Manchester United.

Visit again tomorrow for Part Two of the Briefing

- Join Ben Andrews and Jason Cundy on Chelsea TV on Sunday as they bring you exclusive build-up and live commentary of Chelsea's game against Man Utd.

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Chelsea v Manchester United

 

Chelsea

  • 1
    Petr Cech
  • 2
    Branislav Ivanovic
  • 24
    Gary Cahill
  • 26
    John Terry
  • 28
    Cesar Azpilicueta
  • 7
    Nascimento Ramires
  • 4
    David Luiz
  • 22
    da Silva Willian Substitution
  • 11
    Emboaba Oscar Substitution
  • 17
    Eden Hazard
  • 29
    Samuel Eto'o Substitution

Substitutions

  • 21
    Nemanja Matic Substitution
  • 8
    Frank Lampard
  • 12
    Mikel Substitution
  • 23
    Mark Schwarzer
  • 3
    Ashley Cole
  • 9
    Fernando Torres Substitution
  • 10
    Juan Mata
Shots on Target
7
4
Shots off Target
7
6
Corners
5
4
Fouls
15
19
Most fouls
Ivanovic
Valencia
3
5
Yellow Cards
1
3
Red Cards
1

Man Utd

  • 1
    David De Gea
  • 2
    Rafael Da Silva
  • 6
    Jonny Evans
  • 15
    Nemanja Vidic
  • 3
    Substitution Patrice Evra
  • 4
    Phil Jones
  • 16
    Michael Carrick
  • 25
    Antonio Valencia
  • 44
    Adnan Januzaj
  • 18
    Substitution Ashley Young
  • 19
    Danny Welbeck

Substitutions

  • 23
    Tom Cleverley
  • 13
    Anders Lindegaard
  • 24
    Darren Fletcher
  • 26
    Shinji Kagawa
  • 12
    Substitution Chris Smalling
  • 11
    Ryan Giggs
  • 14
    Substitution Javier Hernandez

CHELSEA v MAN UTD - 19/01/14

Chelsea vs Manchester United Highlights

Video thumbnail Play
Chelsea 3 Man Utd 1
Match Highlights from Stamford Bridge
11:38 min
English

MATCH REPORT: CHELSEA 3 MANCHESTER UNITED 1

Summary
The Blues made it six wins on the spin by convincingly taking a big scalp on Sunday afternoon, Samuel Eto'o scoring a hat-trick.

The Cameroonian's opener came after a strong opening from the visitors but from that moment on, the result rarely looked in doubt, one good chance not taken apart, with the other Chelsea goals coming either side of half-time.

The reigning champions, who end the day 12 points behind Chelsea, were only able to pull a goal back inside the final 15 minutes, and had their skipper Nemanja Vidic sent off in stoppage time as Jose Mourinho's men negotiated the close with no further scares. The manager had his 100th Premier League win.

Team News
Branislav Ivanovic had recovered from injury earlier than originally anticipated and resumed at right-back with Cesar Azpilicueta moving back over to the left.

The five midfielders were unchanged from the win at Hull so David Luiz retained his place but there was a change at centre-forward with Eto'o starting, and what a good decision that proved to be.

New signing Nemanja Matic was on the bench, as was Frank Lampard who was back from injury suffered over the Christmas period.

Man United made three changes from their win over Swansea last weekend with Jonny Evans preferred to Chris Smalling in central defence and Phil Jones and Ashley Young coming in for Darren Fletcher and Shinji Kagawa.

Prior to kick-off in this first home match of the new year, there were special presentations from Peter Bonetti and Ron Harris to Frank Lampard and John Terry to mark them passing the 600-game milestone during 2013.

Chelsea v Man United


First half
Stamford Bridge had been looking forward to this game for some time but the early possession was with Man United, and Cech was called upon to make a smart stop on the turf from Young as Chelsea became outnumbered on the right of our penalty area. Then Valencia and Rafael between them managed to get behind the other side of our defence on a couple of occasions.

Ramires hit the Blues first shot on target on 10 minutes but it was too tame to worry David De Gea. Willian hit a sweeter effort soon after but a deflection off Evra this time drew the sting out of it.

Steadily Mourinho's men were gaining a foothold in the game, partly due to some collective pressing of Man United in possession in the middle of the park, and partly due to the visitors conceding a series of free-kicks.

It was Eto'o who turned the improvement into something tangible on 16 minutes. The striker, who has on his CV an opening goal in a Champions League final against the same opposition, was dropping deep at times and it was in such a position on the right that he found himself with the ball and with space.

Also with the skill to take the ball inside of Jones, Eto'o then tried his luck from outside the area and the ball deflected up off Carrick's attempt to block. De Gea was beaten as it looped up then down into the far side of the net.

Chelsea v Man United

It was the goal that immediately kick-started Chelsea's performance but with the temperature of this big match raised, David Luiz was booked for a foul on Valenica.

Boosted by the goal, our midfielders were now finding space and were influencing the game in a way not seen in the first 10 minutes. We were looking menacing on the counter-attack as well as in tighter situations, with Eden Hazard leaving Vidic and Rafael for dead with one dart inside the area.

It wasn't all Chelsea though, and Adnan Januzaj hit a ball across the face of the Chelsea goal that on another day would have found a colleague for a tap-in.

On 34 minutes Young was rightly booked for tugging back Ramires who was flying past him into the Man United half as the Blues tried to spring another counter-attack.

The visitors had the better of a five-minute spell as half-time approached, culminating in Welbeck spurning a very good chance as the Blues defence failed to cut out a low cross. From around about the penalty spot the England striker gave Cech a chance and the clean-sheet record-holder made the save.

On 41 minutes the Blues ripped through the Man U defences with Willian and Hazard big players in the move, but when Eto'o's cross deflected kindly to Oscar in front of goal, his acrobatic overhead effort was off-target.

The pressure on the Man United goal remained. David Luiz had no luck with a free-kick but following a corner, Ramires slipped a good pass forward to Gary Cahill in space and when the ball was played across low, Eto'o was there to apply the sharp finished touch that has been one of the hallmarks of his glittering career. There were 44 minutes played and the game was going very nicely indeed.

Chelsea v Man United


Second half
The last time Chelsea had a 2-0 lead at half-time at home to Man United in the league, we went on to win 5-0, back in 1999 when it was Vialli v Ferguson.

With Mourinho and Moyes now at the helms, we took a step towards another big win with just three minutes of the second period played.

Willian took a corner from the right and Cahill, always such a threat at set-pieces, escaped to thump a header goalwards. De Gea just about kept that out but Eto'o was almost on his toes to complete the first Chelsea hat-trick since Fernando Torres against QPR almost two years ago.

Chelsea v Man United

Valencia was booked for a foul on Azpilicueta as his side tried to stem the tide but Ramires and Hazard both found space to shoot over, the second via a deflection.

Mikel came on for Oscar midway through the half with Ramires pushed out wide on the right. Rafael had been able to find space a cross from that flank just before that change.

Welbeck got his head to a corner but thankfully it cleared the far post and then Hernandez put pressure on Cech as the keeper miss-controlled a pass back, only to get turned on the line by the Chelsea keeper who then cleared.

On 77 minutes, Moyes's side did pull a goal back, substitute Hernandez sliding in to score at the back post after Jones had turned Welbeck's centre on-target.

Now the game was a test of Chelsea nerve. Terry was in the right spot to clear as Smalling pulled a cross back into the danger zone.

Torres had come on for Eto'o straight after the Man United goal and now he was joined by Matic who came on for Willian. The shape was 4-1-4-1 with David Luiz the deepest midfielder.

A late head of steam for the visitors failed to materialise. Instead indiscipline took over with Vidic sent off for chopping down Hazard in the middle of the park, and then Rafael was booked for a foul on Cahill that could have been punished more severely too. Torres also sustained a knee injury and was forced out of the action temporarily.

Chelsea v Man United

The final whistle blew soon after. It was time for 'One Step Beyond' to send the Stamford Bridge crowd, who had witnessed the beating of Liverpool in the last game here, home happy.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Ramires, D Luiz; Willian (Matic 85), Oscar (Mikel 68), Hazard; Eto'o (Torres 78).
Unused subs Schwarzer, Cole, Lampard, Mata.
Scorers Eto'o 16, 45, 48.
Booked David Luiz 18

Man United (4-4-1-1): De Gea; Rafael, Vidic (c), Evans, Evra (Smalling 51); Valencia, Carrick, Jones, Young (Hernandez 56); Januzaj; Welbeck.
Unused subs Lindegaard, Fletcher, Cleverley, Giggs, Kagawa,
Scorer Hernandez 77.
Sent-off Vidic 90+1.
Booked Young 35, Valencia 55, Rafael 90+4.

Referee Phil Dowd
Crowd 41,465.

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OFFICIAL MAGAZINE & MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

The Chelsea FC matchday programme & official magazine are now both available to fans in multiple ways.

  • You can buy a digital version of either the programme or the magazine to download to your tablet and mobile devices.
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  • Registered users can also read extracts from the matchday programme right here on chelseafc.com for free in the form of the manager and captain's programme notes written for every home game.

Matchday Programme

DIGITAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Chelsea's official matchday programme will be available to download in digital format for Android and iOS tablets as well as Android mobile devices for the first time during the 2013/14 season. Our award-winning publication is released for every home game and is packed full of exclusive content, making it a must read for Blues fans of all ages.

Regular features in the programme for 2013/14 season include:

  • Read Jose Mourinho's thoughts in his exclusive manager's notes
  • Exclusive player features and regular Q&As with first-teamers
  • All the latest behind-the-scenes images and gossip from Cobham in The Insider
  • Captain's column
  • Detailed coverage of our opponents
  • In-depth look at the history of Chelsea FC and regular interviews with club legends
  • Column with different celebrity fan in each issue
  • Match analysis
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  • Under-21s, Academy and ladies pages

Single Issues = £2.99
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>> Android: click here to download or search "CFC Programme" in Google Play

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*Please note matchday programmes are available to download on the day of a home fixture

 

chelsea Magazine

DIGITAL MAGAZINE

Chelsea magazine, the official monthly publication of Chelsea Football Club, is now available to download digitally for Android and iOS tablets, as well as Android mobile devices. Packed full of exclusive features, it is a must read for any discerning Blues fan. You can buy the latest issue of the magazine now for just £2.99.

Regular features in the magazine for 2013/14 include:

  • Jose Mourinho answering a selection of fans' question in every issue
  • Exclusive players feature with stunning behind-the-scenes images courtesy of the club's official photographer
  • The Games That Made Me Q&A with first-team squad members
  • Celebrity fan interviews
  • Bespoke historical features, catching up with former favourites and reminiscing on classic matches
  • Guest columnist Sebastian Coe
  • Detailed round-up of all the month's matches and full news summary
  • Academy player profile and summary of all the youth-team, reserve and Chelsea Ladies action
  • Shed End section devoted to the fans

Single Issues = £2.99
Annual subscription = £29.99 (only available on iOS)

Android >> click here to download this month's magazine  or search "CFC Magazine" in Google Play

iOS  >> click here to download this month's magazine or search "CFC Magazine" in the Newsstand
 

Matchday Programme

MAN UNITED - 19/01/14 - MOURINHO

Today, we play against the champions. We don't play against a team that is 11 points away from the leaders, we play versus Manchester United...

MAN UNITED - 19/01/14 - JT

We are back at Stamford Bridge today after three away games on the spin, from which we've picked up three important wins...

LIVERPOOL - 29/12/13 - MOURINHO

Today we play our final game of 2013; a very important game against Liverpool...

LIVERPOOL - 29/12/13 - JT

After two good results last week, today is a great opportunity for us to open up a gap between ourselves and Liverpool going into the new year...

SWANSEA - 26/12/13 - MOURINHO

Merry Christmas to all of our supporters ahead of this Boxing Day game against Swansea. I hope you had a fantastic day yesterday and are enjoying the holidays with your loved ones...

SWANSEA - 26/12/13 - JT

I hope you all had a great Christmas Day and are looking forward to the game today...

CRYSTAL PALACE - 14/12/13 - MOURINHO

After the win against Steaua on Wednesday night, we finished the first Champions League phase as group champions and now we wait for the draw on Monday to find out who we will meet in

CRYSTAL PALACE - 14/12/13 - JT

It was important that we got the win on Wednesday and came through to top our Champions League group...

CRYSTAL PALACE - 14/12/13 - MOURINHO

After the win against Steaua on Wednesday night, we finished the first Champions League phase as group champions and now we wait for the draw on Monday to find out who we will meet in

STEAUA BUCHAREST - (11/12/13) - JT

Saturday's result was not good enough and now we have to react in the right way to that...

WEST BROM - (9/11/13) - MOURINHO

Wednesday night was a great game - a solid performance, control, and now we can think of qualifying, but also of trying to finish first in the group...

WEST BROM - (9/11/13) - JT

The win against Schalke was a big result for us - a good performance, three goals and three more points to put us in the driving seat at the top of our Champions League group...

SCHALKE - (6/11/13) - JT

After six straight wins in all competitions, and two great results in a row against Manchester City and Arsenal, the loss at Newcastle was so disappointing...

SCHALKE - (6/11/13) - MOURINHO

After an important and bad defeat at home to Basel in our first Champions League game of the season, we were able to bounce back and win two away matches in Romania and Germany ahead

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