Sunday will mark the first time that Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho will meet face to face since since the two big personality coaches waged their heated and extensive war of words last month.
Will there be a heated exchange on the Old Trafford touchline? A shoving match? I guess we’ll see. When Chelsea visits United this weekend it will also be a match where second place could be on the line (depending on what Liverpool do). Both teams head into this clash desperate for the league win.
United fell 1-0 at lowly Newcastle United while the Blues have just two league wins in 2018.
Looking at United’s potential line-up, obviously Paul Pogba is the headline story. Will he start?
In what role will Mourinho utilize him? You may have heard a story or two on this topic. How should Mourinho utilize Pogba? Are the two men getting along?
You may have heard a pundit or two opine on these topics.
For what it’s worth, we’re going to predict a scenario where Mourinho lines up a formation that best capitalizes on the Frenchman’s talents and abilities- on the left side in a midfield three.
Anthony Martial Romelu Lukaku Alexis Sanchez
Paul Pogba Scott McTominay Nemanja Matic
Ashley Young Eric Bailly Chris Smalling Antonio Valencia
David de Gea
Odds: Chelsea 5/2, Draw 23/10, United 13/10
Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte press conference videos, go to these links: Mourinho, Conte
Chelsea starting XI prediction: go to this link
Injury Report for both teams: go to this link
Prediction: United 1, Chelsea 0
Feel free to post your own Chelsea and/or Man United starting XI predictions, as well as your best guess as to what the final score will be.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.