Terrace Talk

With only three matches to go, it is pretty evident that the game against Chelsea means more than just three points. This is the game that can decide the winner of this season’s premiership trophy. It means the whole championship, pride and glory that we fought for since August rests on a single match.

Arsenal’s incredible start to the season meant we were struggling to keep up from the start. It was like a beauty contest between two models. The difference was that only Manchester United had the brains for the Question and Answer part. But suddenly, out of nowhere a beast has appeared, playing some annoying, grotesque football, and on Saturday the beauty and the beast face each other in a match, which promises to be a really interesting encounter.

In their last match, Chelsea managed to get 3 vital points, narrowly beating Everton 1-0, after a humiliating draw the previous Monday at Wigan. On Tuesday, they played at Anfield, in a dramatic match, Champions Leage match, managing to get a draw out of what seemed a certain defeat, after Riise’s own goal in the 95^th minute. It looks like Chelsea have been very lucky lately, but I hope that on Saturday the luck will run out.

Conversly, Manchester United’s unlucky draw against Blackburn was like a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel for them. In fact, if it hadn’t been for Tevez’ late equalizer, this match could have genuinely handed Chelsea the advantage in the title race. The Argentinean striker came in as our Messiah, again, doing a wonderful impression of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. After United came back from behind to beat Arsenal, I thought this title race would be a piece of cake, needing only three points at Blackburn, but they proved again that you can never be sure of something when it comes to football.

After United’s midweek travels to the Nou Camp to face Barcelona, I’d expect our players to make up for that horror “show” we witnessed and provide a more entertaining title winning victory. If United wins, not only do we gain three more points but also kick Chelsea out of contention. With a victory United wil have 84 points, leaving Chelsea to overcome a superior goal difference and pray for United to completely fall apart in their final two games. A loss in such a crucial game is disastrous and would leave United tied with Chelsea, leaving us to face West Ham at home and a fiesty Wigan side away. It’s important to note that we haven’t haven’t beaten the Hammers in the past two seasons, while Wigan are keen to avoid relegation and it makes them very dangerous. Not to mention, tthat the psychological blow a loss would cause an uneeded mental burden at the end of the season.

Notable absences will be Nemanja Vidic, who missed Wednesday night’s draw in Barcelona with a stomach bug and Frank Lampard, whose mother, Pat Lampard has passed away. May she rest in peace. I hope our players show some respect and will keep one minute of silence before the match and if we win at Stamford Bridge I hope they won’t be celebrating after the match.

So, in the end it’s as simple as this - United and Clesea will have to kill each other to win the English Premier League crown. One game to decide the title.