Article from BBC sports.
1. Solid at the back
Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic has also enjoyed a fine season in the centre of defence, with his no-nonsense defensive style complementing Rio Ferdinand's more cultured approach.
Patrice Evra has matured at left-back while Gabriel Heinze has proved versatile and effective when required.
United's defence has often been regarded as error prone over recent seasons but it has had a more solid look this time around - and been excellently protected by summer signing Michael Carrick.
And although United have kept fewer clean sheets than the Londoners, they have only conceded one goal or more in a game five times compared to nine by the Blues.
2. The Engine Room
One crucial difference between this season and last has been the return of Paul Scholes.
Scholes missed five months of the last campaign with an eye problem and his presence has restored craft and maturity to the United midfield.
His range and accuracy of passing has allowed United's myriad attacking talents to flourish and he has formed a superb combination alongside Carrick, whose form has gone a long way to silencing those who questioned the value of his £18.6m transfer fee.
One of Chelsea's big summer signings was Michael Ballack who joined on a free transfer from Bayern Munich.
The German has had a disappointing season, not gelling with Frank Lampard in the middle of the park and looking a shadow of the player who was so dynamic for Germany at last year's World Cup
3. The Wingers
Mourinho's first two seasons at Stamford Bridge saw him favour the use of three in midfield, with two wide players and a solitary striker in front of them.
The Chelsea boss had an impressive pool of wide players in Joe Cole, Arjen Robben, Damien Duff and, for his second season at the helm, Shaun Wright-Phillips.
But Cole, so impressive for Chelsea in recent years, has missed all but a handful of games this season, while Robben has also spent large spells on the sidelines.
With Duff sold to Newcastle last summer and Wright-Phillips often overlooked, Chelsea have not been as effective down the flanks.
United boss Ferguson also understands the importance of width and in the evergreen Ryan Giggs has a veteran winger who is both consistent and potent.
But the revelation has been Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 22-year-old has learnt to refine his vast array of skills. Instead of constantly overplaying he has used his gifts to hurt the opposition - as his return of 17 Premiership goals testifies.
4. The Goals
Didier Drogba is the Premiership's top scorer with 19 goals and his combination of physical power and finishing ability has proved too much for many defences.
Unfortunately for Chelsea their £30m summer signing last summer Andriy Shevchenko has endured a difficult first season in England.
United's forward line this season - with the likes of Louis Saha, Wayne Rooney, Henrik Larsson, Giggs and Ronaldo - has been fluid and inventive and have not relied on van Nistelrooy to apply the finishing touch.
5. The Winning Ways
Both Chelsea and Manchester United have enjoyed lengthy periods of excellent form.
Crucially, though, it was United who made the best start, moving to the top of the Premiership and subjecting Mourinho's Chelsea to the role of pursuers for the first time.
United lost just one of their first 17 fixtures, drawing two and winning 14.
During the same period Chelsea lost two and drew three, winning 12 to give United a five-point lead.
Chelsea won nine straight games starting on 31 January - their longest winning streak of the season. United responded with seven consecutive victories of their own before losing to Portsmouth.
It seemed as though United might crack under the pressure of Chelsea's brilliant run but Mourinho's team lost crucial momentum with draws against Newcastle and Bolton.
In the end it seems Chelsea left themselves just too much ground to make up on their rivals.
Chelsea won the title in 2005 with 95 points and the year after with 91. This year they can still reach 87 points.
It is not that Mourinho's team have suffered a dramatic lowering of standards, more that for the first time they have been seriously challenged.
United finished with 77 points in 2005 and 83 in 2006. This year they have played more consistently than in recent years and with a team that has a superb blend of experience and youth, United can finish the season with 94 points.
The coming together of the two clubs owes more to United's improvement than Chelsea's decline - and it has made for a brilliant title race.
No comments:
Post a Comment