• Premier League Spotlight

Chelsea primed to humiliate Manchester United

James Dall | ESPN FC
October 25, 2014
Mourinho: We are confident and ready

Premier League Spotlight previews Sunday's big clash at Old Trafford as Jose Mourinho comes up against his former mentor Louis van Gaal...

Jose Mourinho will be looking to get the better of Louis van Gaal © Getty Images
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There is an apparent inevitability that Manchester United will be shamed at Old Trafford (not for first time in the past year) in Sunday's match against Chelsea. Things could indeed get ugly, for the bigger the club, the harder they fall. It comes down to just how cruel Jose Mourinho wants to be - certainly, 2014's appetite for public humiliation remains insatiable.

By scoring six in the Champions League during midweek, Chelsea reiterated they are the playground bully that is not only stronger but also smarter than its peers. United, meanwhile, do not seem capable of putting up much of a defence. As was anticipated, the summer recruitment drive has left their squad imbalanced, no matter manager Louis van Gaal's tweaking.

West Bromwich Albion putting two past them on Monday quickened United's heart rate, evoking "the fear" ahead of facing the league leaders, then the holders Manchester City. In words that are already infamous, Van Gaal said after the 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns: "I'm disappointed because we played our best match of the season and the result is not good enough." What if former boss David Moyes had said that?

Conversely, a bullish Mourinho said after the shellacking of Maribor: "We are playing well, we are confident, we are solid and we've found a good balance." There is a neutral's concern that Chelsea, unbeaten and five points clear at the summit, are looking so imperious they will run away with the Premier League title, selfishly denying us drama. Complacency is their enemy, so perhaps United can take advantage of the little chance granted to them versus the pace-setters.

Statistically speaking (via @PCarrESPN)


- Chelsea visit Old Trafford on Sunday, looking to go unbeaten in four straight league games against Manchester United for the first time since 2003 to 2005. Chelsea can also go unbeaten in three straight league games at Old Trafford for the first time since a six-game stretch from 1994 to 1998.

- Manchester United are currently in sixth place, which seems like a promising position. However, seven of United's eight games have been against teams that finished in the bottom 12 last season, and this is United's first game this season against a team that finished in the top four a season ago.

This article originally appeared on ESPN FC

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