Drogba Will Test Manchester United’s Defensive Resolve
Despite a reasonable start to the season concerns have been gathering about Manchester United’s defence. With worries over the backline, Didier Drogba is the just about the last player United want to see.
In midweek CSKA Moscow scored three times at Old Trafford when United had to go into the game with their second string pairing of Wes Brown and Jonny Evans. It is still uncertain whether Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic will be available for the weekend crunch game with Chelsea.
Even if Sir Alex Ferguson can select his first choice pair, they haven’t been the dominant force they were last season. Ferdinand has lost some confidence due to injury and Vidic has his problems against pace.
Chelsea will relish playing United at this juncture because after a blip at Wigan and Aston Villa, they are scoring goals for fun- and Didier Drogba is in imperious form. The Ivorian striker blows hot and cold but on his game he’s the most powerful striker in the Premier League, he’s favourite to be the first goalscorer at 9/2.
Several times he’s been on the point of quitting Chelsea but each time he’s pulled back from the brink. Drama surrounds him on and off the field but at the moment he’s leading the line with pace, power and guile.
Contrary to accepted wisdom, Carlo Ancelotti has found a way to mix Drogba ‘s talents with the mercurial Nicholas Anelka. The Ivorian is in one of his periods where everything he does is dedicated to the team effort and he’s creating opportunities as well as scoring.
Chelsea are playing to a settled pattern with Ancelotti introducing a midfield ‘diamond’. One of the results is that the two strikers are encouraged to roam wide to offer width- a part of Drogba’s game where he’s always excelled.
Ferdinand and Vidic can stand up to him physically but if Ferguson has to play Brown or Evans, Drogba will probably stay central and try to bully the centre backs. He will certainly be up for the battle as he’s missed several Champions League games through suspension.
Without Owen Hargreaves, the Old Trafford side lack a world-class defensive midfielder- though Darren Fletcher can do a job there- and Drogba loves to drop away from the centre-halves and launch himself from deep.
Even if he isn’t threatening a breakthrough, the Chelsea striker has the accumulated experience to be able to keep the whole back four occupied. At his rampaging best he creates space for the likes of Frank Lampard and spreads uncertainty among the opposition defenders.
Like several Chelsea players he has unfinished business. After two titles under Jose Mourinho, Drogba, Lampard, John Terry and Petr Cech have had to watch United take the next three Premiership crowns and deny them a Champions League.
This year could be the final hurrah for a group of Stamford Bridge stalwarts who desperately want the title back. A victory at the weekend would go a long way to establishing their ascendency in 2009/10.
It’s going to be a terrific game on Sunday, showcasing some of the best talent the Premiership has to offer. On current form Drogba is likely to be the deciding factor between the two teams, with that in mind PartyBets.com are offering a Didier Drogba special; The Ivorian to score twice and Chelse to win is available at 11/1.
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