English Premier League match Manchester United vs Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday (28/4), will determine who the club is likely to win € 83.4 million in the Champions League next season.
€ 83.4 million is a total prize that a club can win from playing in the Champions League next season, starting from appearing in the group stage to winning in the final match. The money can still be increased through income from broadcasting rights.
Finishing the position of the Champions League zone in the English Premier League standings is a fight for four clubs: Man United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Arsenal. The four will compete for two tickets after the other two will definitely belong to Manchester City and Liverpool.
To illustrate how tight the competition won two tickets to the Champions League next season, the point difference between Tottenham (70 points) who is now third to Man United in sixth position is only six points.
On paper Tottenham is more favored. Grabbing two wins from the remaining three matches, the Lilywhites have already confirmed their ticket to the Champions League next season. Thus only one ticket is contested, therefore the results of the Man United vs Chelsea match are very crucial.
For Man United to enter the top four in the Premier League final standings is the only one to be able to play in the Champions League next season. While Chelsea has two ways, namely penetrating the top four positions or becoming Europa League champions this season.
With the top four as the stakes, the Mancherser United vs Chelsea match will certainly be interesting. Not only interesting, the match at Old Trafford will also be difficult to predict because both Manchester United and Chelsea are both inconsistent in the last few games.
Manchester United has a worse record after swallowing three successive defeats from Barcelona, Everton, and finally Manchester City. The Red Devils conceded nine times and were unable to score. If pulled back again, Manchester United is only able to score in one match in the last five matches, namely when defeating West Ham United 2-1.
While Chelsea have a better record. Even so, the appearance of the Blues was also inconsistent after only being able to win one victory in the last three matches.
The main spotlight will be on Solskjaer against Chelsea. The coach from Norway is expected to be able to make a breakthrough. Significant changes, both strategy and composition of players, are highly anticipated by Manchester United supporters against Chelsea.
Manchester United’s game that relies on direct football is reportedly disliked by Paul Pogba and his friends. With the composition of players currently owned, Manchester United is more suitable to play possession football by relying on Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata in midfield.
It is time for Solskjaer to give credence to the players he has been reserving, such as Mata, Ander Herrera and Alexis Sanchez. After all, the three players already have a lot of experience playing in the Premier League.
Manchester United must be more creative in building attacks, brave, and observant in front of the opponent’s goal. Because, in the last three matches, MU have been unable to score and concede nine times.
In the stronghold of Chelsea, Maurizio Sarri must be able to choose between playing Gonzalo Higuain or Olivier Giroud as the center forward. Higuain scored the first goal since March 3 when against Burnley on Monday (22/4). While Giroud scored four goals in the last five times to start in all competitions.
Anyone who becomes a central Chelsea striker is actually not too influential. Sarri must focus more on improving the performance of the winger and midfield. Because, in the last few games Chelsea look very reliant on Eden Hazard.
Like when held to a Burnley draw, Hazard got a very large portion of the ball when Chelsea attacked in the final third of Burnley’s defense. However, the Belgian player had difficulty breaking down Burnley’s defense alone.
Players as good as Hazard also need help. As an option Sarri can play Pedro Rodriguez and Willian to help Chelsea attack.
