Manchester United v Chelsea: He's back. United your next!

Didier Drogba is back for Chelsea against United tomorrow in the biggest game of the season so far. Rooney's missing and after a 7-1 mauling of Villa last week, a full weeks rest and 12 goals in our last two games, UNITED YOUR NEXT!

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed yesterday that after a slight knock last week Didier Drogba will return to the starting line up tomorrow. I can see that being the only change to the Chelsea side that have impressed in the last two games. Michael Ballack is back and in contention and Ancelotti could look to him to replace Deco to add more defensive stability in a possible additional change by the Manager.

Chelsea / Ancelotti will stick with the 4-3-3 formation that has served us so well and turned things round for us in the last two games. Malouda left and Joe Cole right should be the order of the day and if we go with that formation United will have problems dealing with the threat we pose.

I am taking plenty of heart from Bayern Munich's second half performance in the midweek. They hassled United and had plenty of the ball. United looked tired and it showed and ultimatley cost them with the late goal to lose the game 2-1. Chelsea need to do the same, have plenty of the ball and when we have it get it wide to Joe and Malouda for Didier in the box and the late runs of Lampard who is on fire and will be there to latch onto anything in or around the area.

Of course United being United will more than likely line up with the same side that took to the field in midweek apart from two possible changes. Obviously Berbatov for Rooney and I predict Gary Neville will be rested for Rafael to come in to counter the threat of Malouda.

United will have workaholics Park and Fletcher in their midfield tomorrow as Fergie always picks these two for their workrate in the big games, but if Chelsea control possession of the ball, these two can tire as the game progresses like in midweek.

Berbatov up against JT and Alex no problem. Ferreira and Zhirkov just need to do their jobs defensively tomorrow and we should be tight at the back.

The main battle will be Drogba against the over-rated Rio Ferdinand and his partner (who I do rate) Vidic. Normally Vidic will pick up Didier and Rio will cover but if Chelsea play the 4-3-3 tomorrow and have success wide (which also relies on United's wide men to get back on the cover) then Didier could have a field day against these two.

MANAGER QUOTES:

Ancelotti:
"Every team has a lot of injuries at the moment, and I would like that Manchester United could use Rooney and Fabregas could play for Arsenal if I could have my injured players ready to play. I want to remind everyone that we have out Michael Essien, Ashley Cole, Jose Bosingwa, Branislav Ivanovic and also Ricardo Carvalho, so I don't know if we can claim advantage from injuries.

Drogba trained very well today and is fit to play, I think he will start against Manchester United. The other strikers did a fantastic job against Aston Villa but Drogba is a very important player for us. Everyone knows how Rooney is important for their team, he is a fantastic player and has done a fantastic season so this injury could be an advantage for us, But sometimes a team can give more than 100 per cent when a very important player is out, and we have to pay attention to that. Man United have experience and players to cope with the miss of Rooney.

Nothing is decided after Saturday's game. I always said that the title will be decided at the end of the season, at the last game. Saturday is a very important game against a very strong team but I think we will have a very good chance. We are fit and our confidence has improved following the games against Portsmouth and Aston Villa. We want to do our best and we have the possibility to do this because our moment now is good, really good.'

Ferguson:
"I think there are goals there. I haven't got any doubt about that, It's obviously a very big game and if one team wins it is a significant step forward for that team. If we win we go four points clear with five games left. If Chelsea win it's two points ahead of us with five games left. A draw - nothing changes. It will be very, very tight to the end of the season.

As I've been saying for the last couple of weeks, goal difference may come into it. With Chelsea getting seven against Aston Villa last week, it turned the whole goal difference upside down after we had that nice advantage. There's only two goals difference between us and that can change in a couple of games."

I think Chelsea will feel they have an advantage by having a week off, Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes you're better playing all the time. The continuity of playing and the consistency of performance...it's not a disadvantage to us"

I can't help but feel confident about the game tomorrow because of a whole host of circumstances:

United's poor performance in midweek, The Rooney injury (its a massive blow and no matter what vibes are coming out of Manchester, they know they aren't the same team without him), Lampard's return to form (6 goals in two games playing in his favoured position and when he is playing like he is there is nobody better), The weeks rest Chelsea have had (again, forget what's coming out of Manchester, if Chelsea win, Fergie will state this as one of the reasons. A fresh side who haven't played for 7 days will have more of an effect on the game than one who has had to travel and played in midweek) and the Malouda factor (he is on top form and even though starts out wide left comes inside and causes problems) and I can only see United getting at most a point from tomorrow.

Chelsea just need to keep their shape, keep their heads and maintain possession of the ball and play to our strengths. Do not be surprised if this is a tight one till the second half. Chelsea's fitness level's will be the difference and it wouldn't surprise me if we scored two in the last 20 minutes of the game to win it.

MY PREDICTION: 0-2 Chelsea.

COME ON THE CHELS!

CAREFREE & KTBFFH !