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Is Wayne Rooney set to make an unlikely comeback on Wednesday evening?

• Tiredness no excuse before Bayern Munich game
• Neville: ‘We have big enough and talented squad to cope’

Gary Neville, the Manchester United captain, does not believe tiredness can be offered as an excuse should his side fail to defeat Bayern Munich and qualify for the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.

Manchester United must bounce back from losing to Chelsea at the weekend and beat Bayern at Old Trafford if they are to make the semi-final stage for the fourth year in succession.

Chelsea, who were knocked out of Europe at the last 16 stage, were the superior side on Saturday, with even Sir Alex Ferguson admitting his players were “leggy”.

Having performed equally poorly in Germany last Tuesday, when United squandered possession and threw away their lead and Wayne Rooney succumbed to the ankle injury that Ferguson has said will keep him out of the decider, it may be argued United’s arduous season is having a major effect.

But Neville is having none of it. “We are more used to playing Wednesday-Saturday than having free weeks,” said the full-back. “I don’t think it becomes a telling factor. Sometimes when you get a free week you can find yourself wondering what to do with yourself because you are so used to playing.

“We are happy to be playing the big games and being in Europe. We have a big squad as well, so the manager may freshen things up. We are fine with where we are at.”

Although Dimitar Berbatov has been heavily criticised for his generally less than dynamic performance and failure to take a difficult late chance on Saturday that would have given his side a draw, unless Rooney makes a surprise recovery, the Bulgaria centre-forward will again carry United’s attacking hopes.

Clearly, Rooney’s absence adversely affected United at the weekend. But they also performed badly with him in the side against Munich and the recent defeat at Everton proved Rooney’s presence does not guarantee success.

Neville is certainly not lamenting Rooney’s absence and he insists United have the strength in depth to cope.

“The successful teams are usually the ones that have the most money and the biggest squads, and we believe we have a big enough and talented enough squad to cope with the fixtures,” Neville told the Sunday Times of Malta. “If we don’t we will have to live with it.”

Defeats have made life difficult, but Stewart Gardner says it’s not over yet.

The impressive Portuguese full-back was at the heart of Chelsea’s dominance against a jaded Manchester United

Selection and shape

Chelsea, with no midweek game in Europe, would have gained valuable recovery time for any knocks to clear and Carlo Ancelotti retained the same line-up for the first time this season after the thrashing of Aston Villa. That restricted Didier Drogba to the bench and allowed Nicolas Anelka to roam in isolation up front, though it was no surprise that the busier Deco was preferred to the stronger yet more pedestrian Michael Ballack. John Terry and Alex would have been delighted by the absence of Wayne Rooney but wary of the threat of Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs from wide. Preventing Manchester United’s wingers from getting in behind Yuri Zhirkov and Paulo Ferreira was key to Chelsea’s defensive approach.

Tactics and teamwork

Chelsea began the game in aggressive fashion and set the pace, imposing their game-plan on their hosts. Zhirkov and Ferreira got extra tight to United’s wide players and ran them back, forcing them to defend at every opportunity. They went forward with confidence as Chelsea clamped down on midfield, squeezing the play and suffocating United’s rhythm. Darren Fletcher was choked by Frank Lampard’s presence and Paul Scholes, so important for United, was unable to find Giggs in the first period. Giggs seemed marooned near the touchline, desperate for some service, and constantly having to check Ferreira’s runs on the outside. Dimitar Berbatov, marked by Terry, needed closer support but Park Ji-sung was drifting centrally and not troubling Mikel John Obi. The Nigerian was rarely pulled out of position. Terry pushed his full-backs tight and, with Joe Cole dancing down the right and Florent Malouda working slightly narrower on the left, the visitors imposed themselves on a jaded United. Gary Neville and Patrice Evra were fully occupied. Ancelotti would have been happy at half-time: Chelsea had played like the home team, on the front foot, with Petr Cech a smiling spectator.

Did they succeed?

Ultimately, yes. Although United responded by playing their back four further forward after the break, Chelsea’s determination rarely wavered. Scholes and Fletcher worked harder to find some spacedid find space, and Giggs moved further in-field, which gave more muscle to the United midfield and Evra, more importantly, the opportunity to charge into the space vacated by the veteranforward. But Chelsea increasingly held their full-backs, Ferreira and Zhirkov checking their first-half ambition and, sitting on their lead, the visitors grafted with little space between their back-line and front. The manager used his substitutions well – hard-working forwards Joe Cole and Anelka were replaced by fresh legs and real threats in Drogba and Salomon Kalou – though there was no need to change the system. Although United had more of the ball in the second period, without the individual threat of Rooney they were unable to get goal-side of a well-organised Chelsea team. Berbatov had a couple of free sights at goal but United lacked a spark after a demanding week, while Chelsea, fresher and playing with more confidence, ended deserved winners.

These clubs are racing for the title while in retreat. Neither Manchester United nor Chelsea could claim to be quite at their former standard. This is excellent news for the Premier League when it delivers so close a contest. The other challengers, Arsenal, for the sake of variety, have a contrasting sort of handicap since many of their players are still in the development phase. It is because these sides cannot take a firm hold of events that the final weeks of the campaign will be gripping.

Since the league was trimmed to 20 clubs in 1995, no team has taken the title after losing seven games. United reached that mark at the weekend, but the reigning champions remain viable contenders.

The defeat on Saturday reminded everyone that the fight against time is ultimately futile even for so pugnacious a manager as Sir Alex Ferguson. On this occasion, the veterans were a burden rather than an asset. Ryan Giggs is yet to regain his influence since his comeback from a fractured arm. Paul Scholes floundered and would have had two yellow cards rather than one but for the tolerance of the referee Mike Dean, who, like other officials, seems accustomed to his lunges.

Gary Neville’s suffering indicated that the right-back ought not to be brought back into the England squad if alternative candidates are fit. There was no cause to think about Chelsea’s statistics when there was an absorbing match to watch, but they, too, are in need of some reconstruction. They have already conceded 30 league goals and that figure had not been reached in an entire campaign since the 2003-04 season, when Claudio Ranieri was still in charge.

Chelsea’s need of rejuvenation is as marked as United’s but the load they were bearing was lighter. After the elimination by Internazionale in the last 16, there are no more Champions League matches to clutter the programme. Ferguson’s men, by contrast, came to this fixture via the 2‑1 loss to Bayern Munich in Germany last Tuesday. The United manager has been masterful in rotating his squad, but did not dare risk peripheral talents against opponents of Chelsea’s calibre.

Eight of the men who started against Bayern were also selected to kick off on Saturday and the total would have been higher still but for the injury to Wayne Rooney. Chelsea made excellent use of the advantage, outplaying United before the interval and then resisting dogged attempts at recovery. They went ahead in the 20th minute when the outstanding Florent Malouda ran inside Gary Neville, held off Darren Fletcher and hit the low cross that Joe Cole converted delightfully with a flick of the heel.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side had plenty of vim and expertise, but their second goal ought to have been ruled offside. In the 69th minute the substitute Didier Drogba was instead allowed to proceed and thrash a drive past Edwin van der Sar at his near post. Clumsy justice was done when a goal for the United substitute Federico Macheda was then allowed to stand even though his hand helped the ball over the line. Dean and his assistants floundered, but the errors were at least in balance, with each team refused a merited penalty.

Chelsea were superior, yet they, too, cannot be complacent. While someone such as Paulo Ferreira, now a third-choice right-back, put on a fine display, Ancelotti has issues to address. Having already been overjoyed at the sight of Malouda turning into a major force, the manager will be greatly assisted if Ashley Cole and Michael Essien return from injury next month. However, the squad still have to be refreshed in other ways. There is no longer a convincing partner in defence for John Terry, while the two main forwards, Nicolas Anelka and Drogba, are in their 30s.

On Saturday such topics were almost entirely irrelevant because United barely presented a threat. It would be simple to deplore the idleness of Dimitar Berbatov, but United were not under the misapprehension that they were buying themselves a warrior when £30.75m was handed over to Tottenham in 2008. Vision and technique are the traits that placed the Bulgarian in such a price bracket.

He will not take the battle to opponents single-handed, or at least not in the manner of Rooney. Berbatov needed help, but it failed to arrive since neither Park Ji-sung nor Giggs got close enough to establish a link.

The fear now is that the entire side will find itself adrift on Wednesday. United have to overturn that 2‑1 deficit against Bayern then and Arsenal, following the 2‑2 draw with Barcelona at the Emirates, might well have been eliminated the previous night.

The Premier League is more engrossing than ever now that its leading members must confront their own fallibility.

• United forward was expected to be out for two to three weeks
• Club’s medical staff rate his chances of playing as 40%

Wayne Rooney has been tipped to make a shock return for Manchester United ahead of Wednesday’s crucial Champions League match against Bayern Munich.

The striker was expected to be out for at least two to three weeks after he injured ankle ligaments in last week’s first leg in Germany, which United lost 2-1. However, according to reports last night, Rooney has responded well to treatment and could be in line for a surprise recall to Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad if he comes through a training session today.

Rooney has been wearing a protective boot on his injured leg since hobbling off at the end of last week’s defeat in Munich. Ferguson will not risk the England forward if there is a chance of aggravating the injury further and last night United’s medical staff attempted to play down the chances of a comeback by only rating his chances of playing as “40%”.

Rooney’s return would be a boost for a United side that lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the Premier League without him on Saturday. They now trail Carlo Ancelotti’s side by two points with five games left to play.

Manchester United may wish they still had Carlos Tevez after the Bulgarian striker failed again to prove his £30.75m worth

For almost a week Manchester United had been telling us they would cope without Wayne Rooney. Yes, they admitted, it was a blow to lose him but they still had Dimitar Berbatov, a player who had spent some time explaining that he really wanted to show he was passionate about the cause. And then there was young Federico Macheda, someone Sir Alex Ferguson was suddenly talking up as the best 18-year‑old he had ever seen inside the penalty box. Some compliment, given that Ferguson has been in the game more than 50 years and worked with enough players to fill an ocean liner.

This is what football people do when a key player gets injured: they tell us they have to get on with it and there is no point feeling sorry for themselves. And they are right, of course. But sometimes the truth is something they do not want to confront and in this case it is unavoidable, no matter how much Ferguson, or Gary Neville, or anyone else from Old Trafford, tries to talk up Rooney’s replacements.

Although there were reports last night that Rooney could somehow make a shock return for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich – Manchester United’s medical staff rate his chances of playing as “40%” – the simple fact is this: that Rooney’s injury, if it is as bad as first feared, could threaten to bring United’s season to a juddering halt.

All season Ferguson has been banking on him keeping fit, knowing that the supporting cast is no longer what it was. A year ago United had Rooney, Berbatov, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. Before that, there was Rooney, Ronaldo, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Louis Saha. Now the choice is so restricted that when Ferguson was asked a few weeks ago what would happen if Rooney were to get injured, even for a short while, United’s manager puffed out his cheeks then fixed those pale-green eyes on the inquisitor and told him: “Stop sticking those pins in.”

Berbatov will inevitably find himself grazing in the scapegoat’s paddock but one also wonders whether Ferguson, somewhere at the back of his mind, wishes he still had Tevez. Ferguson is not usually one for regrets and Tevez might not have the touch of Berbatov or the appreciation of space. But he has 22 goals in 21 league games for Manchester City this season and could yet squeeze on to the shortlist for Footballer of the Year, behind Rooney, Didier Drogba, Cesc Fábregas and a couple of others.

Tevez has that knack of making things happen; he is the kind of striker who could hustle a late winner. Berbatov, for all his superior skill, remains the man who will score a sumptuous last-minute goal in a 4‑0 win. It’s hypothetical, but how far would that shortlist have to be extended to fit in the Bulgarian? By 50? Eighty?

Carlo Ancelotti, the victorious manager, spoke of his belief that Chelsea were simply the better team, not just over one match but the course of a season. There were eulogies for Joe Cole, who appears to have reinvented himself, and Florent Malouda, a renascent figure who may have ripped up single-handedly Neville’s late application for a World Cup call-up.

When pressed, though, Ancelotti admitted his players had been lifted by the absence of Rooney’s name on the teamsheet. He knew that United’s record of eight wins in the nine previous matches Rooney had missed was a deceptive statistic. “We know Manchester United are not the same team without Wayne Rooney,” Ancelotti said. “Rooney is a fantastic player, very difficult to replace. Berbatov is good but Rooney is totally different.”

Rooney has scored 34 goals this season but he was still on crutches at the weekend and will only be considered for the squad against Bayern, unlikely as it sounds, if he comes through a training session today. Michael Owen is out. So is Daniel Welbeck. Macheda is talented but raw. Berbatov flickers only sporadically. United’s next assignment is at Blackburn, who have only two home defeats all season. Then they go to fourth-placed Manchester City, who have been beaten only once on their own ground. United will almost certainly have to win both matches.

One by one, Ferguson’s fingers are being prised off the trophy, even if Chelsea still have to go to Tottenham and their penultimate game is at Liverpool. Could it possibly be that there is another twist to come and that United could be indebted to Liverpool in the year they want to stand apart from the Anfield club with a record 19th league title?

Possibly, but this Chelsea side smack of professionalism and efficiency. Maybe, on Saturday, it would have been different had the opposition’s best player not been on crutches. What we can say for sure is that Berbatov’s chance to offer a serious demonstration of his £30.75m worth came and went against two flawless centre-halves. United without Rooney are not quite a car without petrol but the needle is dipping towards the red and they are still a long way from home.

• Chelsea’s manager questions United’s trophy hopes
• ‘It’s going to be difficult for them now,’ he claims

Carlo Ancelotti has backed his Chelsea team not to relinquish their lead at the top of the Premier League and questioned whether Wayne Rooney’s absence with an ankle injury may have caused irreparable damage to Manchester United’s hopes of winning the title or the Champions League, although the striker could make a shock return in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.

Chelsea’s 2-1 victory at Old Trafford yesterday left them two points clear of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team and three ahead of Arsenal with five games left to play.

“The players have a great desire to win this title because it has been a lot of years since Chelsea last won the league,” Ancelotti said. “They have had a fantastic reaction from the Inter game [losing in the Champions League]. I’ve been very impressed with their character, their strength and the way we have bounced back to play some really good football.”

Chelsea have now beaten United and Arsenal home and away and they will have the chance to do the double over Liverpool when they go to Anfield in their penultimate match of the league season. “I think we should be further clear,” Ancelotti said. “We have done very well against the top four but have lost points against the other teams. The important thing now is that we maintain good control because we still have a lot of games to go and we have to stay focused. But I think the character we have shown to bounce back from the Inter defeat proves we are very professional.”

United have lost seven times in the league this season – no side has won the title with that number of defeats since the move to a 38-game format. They trail Bayern 2-1 going into their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday. Ancelotti hinted that Rooney’s absence could be key in that match.

Talking of the frequency with which United’s players lost possession, the Italian said: “I’m not surprised because this is not a good moment for their team after losing to Bayern Munich during the week and because they have lost a very important player. It’s not easy for United to maintain their characteristic and momentum without him. It’s going to be difficult for them now, having lost against Munich, having lost Rooney and now this game.”

“United are not the same team without Rooney,” Ancelotti said. “He is a fantastic player, very difficult to replace. [Dimitar] Berbatov is good, but Rooney is totally different.”

• United centre-back says players were down after Bayern loss
• ‘We need to seize the moment and make sure we finish well’

Nemanja Vidic has urged his Manchester United team-mates not to feel sorry for themselves and to focus on regaining their form ahead of their crucial Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

United handed the advantage in the Premier League title race to Chelsea after losing at Old Trafford to cap a miserable week in which they conceded a last-minute winner in the first leg of their quarter-final against Bayern and also lost Wayne Rooney to an ankle injury.

Bayern, who could be bolstered at Old Trafford by returns of Arjen Robben and Bastian Schweinsteiger, won their own battle of the top two at Schalke last night, but Vidic insists that United must now show their character.

“We were down after the Bayern game but we cannot afford to be down again,” the Serbian said. “We need to get our heads up and face the facts. We have lost two games but we shouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves. We need to seize the moment and make sure we finish well this season.”

United are two points adrift of Chelsea in the Premier League, with an inferior goal difference, and Vidic knows only victories will do from now on.

“Chelsea have just the league and the FA Cup to focus on, which helps them, but if we win all five games then we still have a good chance,” he said. “I hope there will be more twists and turns and there will be more dropped points before the end.”

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness says his side will go to Old Trafford brimming with confidence after returning to the top of the Bundesliga.


They leapfrogged leaders Schalke 04 after a 2-1 win in Gelsenkirchen with two goals in as many minutes from Franck Ribery and Thomas Muller. 

Nemanja Vidic has urged his United team-mates to stay positive.


The Reds have a disastrous week with defeats to Bayern Munich and Chelsea as well as the injury suffered by talisman Wayne Rooney.

• ‘We knew we would be fresher’ says French midfielder
• Ageing United trio find third game in a week tough

According to Florent Malouda, who engineered the opening goal, Chelsea came to Old Trafford with a plan. “We knew we would be fresher than United, we didn’t have a game in midweek,” the French winger said. “That’s why we started the game so quickly. We knew if we kept at a high intensity they would have some problems, and that’s how it worked out.”

Sir Alex Ferguson said beforehand that United were used to playing two games in a week and extra rest would not necessarily work to Chelsea’s advantage, though Carlo Ancelotti’s post-match summary appeared nearer the mark. “Of course we were fresher than United,” the Chelsea manager said. “When you play a Champions League game you lose a lot of energy.”

Ferguson accepted as much in the end and admitted his players looked leggy in the first half, yet he surely contributed to the effect by giving his ageing trio of treble veterans their third game in a week. It was one thing to select Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs against Bolton last Saturday, and another to involve them to varying degrees against Bayern Munich, 11 years after the Camp Nou event, but to start the trio again in a title-decider against Chelsea smacked of either loyalty, or United’s resources, being stretched too far.

After confessing he possibly blundered in Germany by playing Park Ji-sung instead of Antonio Valencia, Ferguson came to the mystifying conclusion that the Korean was worth a try in the centre of midfield here, with Giggs returned to his old left-wing beat and Nani left on the bench. It was scarcely a success, with both Park and Giggs anonymous and Nani having to come on to create United’s goal before the end, though at least the pair avoided being booked for failing to keep up with the pace of the game, which is effectively what happened to Scholes and Neville.

Scholes had an off-day with his distribution, repeatedly hitting overoptimistic passes no winger could hope to reach. In addition to a foul on Malouda that earned him his caution, Neville was out of position when the winger came down the right to set up Joe Cole’s early goal. Wayne Rooney may be injured, though Ferguson had younger alternatives on the bench in Rafael da Silva, Michael Carrick and Darron Gibson. While it is no secret the Scot values experience in big games, here he appeared to overdose on it. Chelsea, the side he politely suggested last season were not getting any younger, were the ones to take advantage. It would appear United are not getting any younger, either, and, though it would not be the first time they have suffered through taking on Europe as well as the rest of the Premier League, this may be the first self-inflicted setback.

It remains remarkable that United are still getting service from three players in their mid-30s who have been with the same club all their careers. It would be more remarkable still, beyond even Camp Nou improbability, for the old guard to save United’s season now. Ferguson has not only been blessed with a golden generation; he can be congratulated, as can the players, on extracting full value from it. But nothing lasts forever.

Pictures of the clash between Manchester United and Chelsea in the Premier League

If it was a bleak day for Manchester United in the English title showdown, it was an afternoon to remember for Bayern Munich, who won at Schalke in Germany’s battle of the top two, displacing the leaders and building their confidence for Wednesday’s game at Old Trafford.

Bayern won 2-1 despite having Hamit Altintop sent off for a second bookable offence in the first half. Their manager, Louis van Gaal, said: “It was an outstanding performance. We didn’t concede many chances and scored two beautiful goals. I’m very satisfied.

“Naturally it’s very positive that we have won here. United have lost at home, we won away from home. But we need to have a rest, have a bit of treatment, and then see who will be available for Wednesday.”

The French winger Franck Ribéry gave Bayern the lead, Thomas Müller took advantage of Rafinha’s defensive lapse 70 seconds later and, although Kevin Kuranyi pulled a goal back for Schalke after 31 minutes, Bayern held on to go top. There was even more good news for Van Gaal’s team: Arjen Robben, their outstanding performer over the season, was not in the squad but the Dutch winger is expected to recover in time for the second leg.

So Bayern will arrive in Manchester not just with a deserved lead, but with a stronger team than they had for last week’s 2-1 win. It looks tough for United, but Sir Alex Ferguson was still in a relaxed mood as he looked ahead to the match – admittedly before the Chelsea defeat. When informed of a rumour that some bookmakers were willing to offer 66-1 against a Rooney-less England winning the World Cup, Ferguson bit like a perch. “You means the odds were originally less than that?” he asked. “I find that hard to believe. 66-1 sounds like a fair price to me.”

This is the sharp end of Manchester United’s season, and despite losing his star player against Chelsea and Bayern, Ferguson was still able to joke about it. Partly because he is such an experienced campaigner, but mostly because the news on Rooney could have been much worse. Ferguson has already pencilled him in for a return against Manchester City on 17 April and expects to have him available for the Champions League semi-finals at the end of the month should United qualify.

“I think Wayne will be back in three weeks at the most,” Ferguson said. “City away seems the most likely game. He’s already been on the bike and the water-treadmill. He’ll be working every day until we get to a point where we can get him on the training field. He’s an enthusiastic lad but he’s sensible about these things. He’ll not be getting carried away or rushing himself back, he’ll listen to the medical people because he knows it’s important to get back without doing any further damage. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t play in the semi-finals in Europe, as long as we get that far.”

Keenly aware that United have never beaten Bayern outside of a European Cup final, Ferguson respects the German team’s ability to impose themselves on a game without necessarily overrunning their opponents.

“The first leg wasn’t one of our better performances, because we didn’t pass the ball well,” he said. “Bayern didn’t cause us too many problems in terms of penetration, they never really opened us up, but what they did was keep us on the edge of our box for long periods, so we never got up the pitch.”

Ferguson is likely to recall Antonio Valencia for the second leg, after admitting that his decision to play Park Ji-sung had not come off in Munich.

“I’m sure we can score in the home leg. We’ve been in this situation before, we have the experience, and that away goal does mean something. Our performance level at home has been good, especially when the chips are down. There are areas we can try to exploit. I don’t think Bayern are the quickest at the back, even their midfield isn’t that quick. They deserved to win the first leg, they were highly motivated and well-prepared, and you have to congratulate their coach for that. Wednesday will be different. We’ll be the ones motivated.”

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti says Premier League title rivals Manchester United are a weaker side without striker Wayne Rooney.

Manchester United

Edwin van der Sar – 6/10

No blame could be apportioned to the goalkeeper for Joe Cole’s goal but his reactions were not brilliant when Didier Drogba beat him for the second, even if the shot was struck with ferocious power.

Gary Neville – 5

This is probably Neville’s best spell for two years but he found Florent Malouda a difficult opponent. Indebted to Mike Dean’s erratic refereeing for not giving away a first-half penalty for a barge on Nicolas Anelka.

Rio Ferdinand – 7

Returning to his best form after a difficult season and coped well with the threat of Anelka even if, in the sub-plot between England captains past and present, John Terry was marginally the better performer.

Nemanja Vidic – 6

Two early passes straight to blue shirts set the tone for United’s dishevelled first-half performance. He recovered thereafter but Drogba caused problems for him soon after coming off the bench.

Patrice Evra – 6

United are usually at their best when Evra is overlapping and playing almost as a secondary winger but these moments were only sporadic here and, defensively, his positioning was questionable.

Darren Fletcher – 6

He never stops running but he was unable to exert his usual influence on the match and will wince when he sees the replays of how Malouda lost him for Cole’s goal.

Paul Scholes – 7

Probably United’s best player in the first half, although he deteriorated after the interval. Some sublime long-range passing but more evidence of his inability to make clean tackles.

Ryan Giggs – 6

Initially deployed on the left wing, with instructions to get at Paulo Ferreira, he did not have any influence on the game until he started to drift inside in the second half.

Antonio Valencia – 6

The winger offered little width or penetration on the right side of attack, particularly in the opening half when he found Chelsea full-back Yuri Zhirkov a persistent opponent.

Park Ji-sung – 6

More involved in the game than he had been against Bayern Munich during the week, but still only on the edges for long spells and no meaningful contribution.

Dimitar Berbatov – 6

It’s stating the obvious, but United badly missed the menace of Wayne Rooney. Berbatov does not have the mobility to lead the line alone, although he could be forgiven for feeling he lacked service.

Substitutes

Federico Macheda (replaced Scholes 71), Nani (replaced Park 71), Darron Gibson (replaced Fletcher 86) Subs not used Tomasz Kuszczak, Michael Carrick, Ritchie De Laet, Rafael Da Silva

Chelsea

Petr Cech – 6

Chelsea’s goalkeeper must have been pleasantly surprised by how little he had to do – but his kicking let him down at times to invite second-half pressure and he was unconvincing for Federico Macheda’s goal.

Paulo Ferreira – 6

He can reflect on a largely satisfying afternoon in front of the watching Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz, coping admirably with the threat of Ryan Giggs, although he did lose Nani in the build-up to United’s goal.

John Terry – 8

One of the main beneficiaries of Wayne Rooney’s ankle injury, the captain was largely untroubled by Dimitar Berbatov in a generally imperious Chelsea defence.

Alex – 7

The usual quota of clearing headers and robust challenges. He and Terry formed an impenetrable barrier in the centre of defence.

Yuri Zhirkov – 6

The best compliment that can be paid to the Russian is that Chelsea are not badly missing Ashley Cole. Stuck manfully to the task of negating Antonio Valencia’s threat.

Mikel Jon Obi – 7

Neat and disciplined, patrolling the area between defence and midfield, and a significant reason why Chelsea dominated midfield for long spells.

Joe Cole – 7

Take note, Fabio Capello. This has been an erratic season for Cole but he was more like his old self here and it was an exquisite touch to beat Edwin van der Sar for the opening goal.

Frank Lampard – 7

He was not as eye-catching as normal, with fewer of those characteristic bursts into the opposition penalty area, but his was still an accomplished performance, full of hard running and energy.

Florent Malouda – 7

The Frenchman is currently the most dangerous left-sided attacker in the country and his fast, direct running frequently troubled United’s defence, particularly during the opening half.

Deco – 6

Some of the Portuguese’s touches were lovely, even if there were spells when he drifted to the periphery of the match.

Nicolas Anelka – 6

Playing a lone role in attack, Anelka was sometimes isolated, with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in close proximity, and eventually made way for the introduction of Didier Drogba.

Substitutes

Didier Drogba (replaced Anelka 69), Salomon Kalou (replaced Cole 73), Michael Ballack (replaced Deco 82). Subs not used Ross Turnbull, Daniel Sturridge, Juliano Belletti, Jeffrey Bruma

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben says he is fit and ready to face Manchester United at Old Trafford in Wednesday’s quarter-final second leg.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is left furious after a controversial Didier Drogba goal helps Chelsea to a vital 2-1 win at Old Trafford.

• ‘It was a poor, poor performance,’ says Ferguson
• Managers agree Chelsea are now title favourites

Sir Alex Ferguson criticised the match officials after Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat by Chelsea, which put Carlo Ancelotti’s side two points clear at the top of the table. Joe Cole put the visitors ahead but it was Didier Drogba’s goal 11 minutes from time that angered Ferguson, with replays showing the striker was offside.

“What I can’t understand is the linesman’s directly in front of it. He has no one near him and he gets it wrong,” Ferguson said. “A game of that magnitude, you really need quality officials and we didn’t get them today. It was a poor, poor performance.”

The referee Mike Dean has been in the spotlight this week after Blackburn’s Martin Olsson admitted he deliberately went down in the area at Burnley because of Dean’s reputation for giving penalties. United had two penalty appeals turned down today while Chelsea looked to have a good shout when Gary Neville barged Nicolas Anelka.

Asked whether Dean had been affected by the comments, Ferguson said: “I don’t know about that but when I saw Mike Dean I did worry, I must admit.”

Chelsea lead United by two points with five games to go, and Ferguson said they are firm favourites. “Five games left, they’re two points ahead and four goals better than us – they’re in the driving seat,” he said. “Chelsea are favourites now, there’s no question. I’m certain we’ll respond but we could win the next five games and not win it.”

While United had a Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich in midweek, Chelsea were able to prepare solely for this game following their elimination by Internazionale in the last round. Both managers felt that proved a crucial factor.

“The first half we looked leggy, it took us too long to get going and Chelsea were by far the better team,” Ferguson said. “The second half we did well, we were unfortunate not to get something from the game. We dominated it in the second period but we just didn’t get there.”

Ancelotti said: “We kept a high intensity in the first half. We had good control of the game. We trained very well during the week because we didn’t have a Champions League match. You lose a lot of energy. We played very well in the first half. It’s a very important victory for us and a very important performance. To win here is not easy, we did a good job.”

The Italian chose to leave Drogba out of the starting line-up and stick with the side that beat Aston Villa 7-1 last week. “It was very tough to take out Didier but he understood because he trained not 100% during the week,” Ancelotti said. “I preferred to put him on during the match and he did very well because he was fresh and he scored a fantastic goal.”

Regarding his team’s title chances, Ancelotti said: “We are favourites, it’s normal, we are back at the top of the league. There are five games left and we have to stay focused. We are happy but nothing is decided so we must stay calm and focused on our game. [It has been a] good reaction after the defeat against Inter. My players are strong.”

The Gunners beat Wolves thanks to an injury-time winner from Bendtner.

After coming on to score vs. Chelsea, Macheda hopes for more chances.

Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded that the title could have slipped from Manchester United’s grasp after letting rip at another referee.

Mike Dean was at the centre of controversy allowing Didier Drogba’s winner even though Chelsea’s top goalscorer was clearly in an offside position.

Nemanja Vidic says the Reds are down but not out of the race.

Sir Alex admits Chelsea have seized a big advantage after beating United.

Find out how we rated the Manchester United players for their performance in the 2-1 defeat against Chelsea at Old Trafford.

In the end it was not even close. Federico Macheda’s springtime speciality made the last 10 minutes interesting rather than tense, and it turned out he had handled the ball anyway. That made redundant all Manchester United’s legitimate claims that 10 minutes earlier Didier Drogba had thumped home the winner from an offside position, and all that remained was for Chelsea to hold on to their lead. They did so with a brisk determination that suggested they will not be easily dislodged from the top of the table now they have their noses in front.

Perhaps a rider could be added to that statement. As long as Drogba is available Chelsea should be able to see out their advantage. Nicolas Anelka does not appear to be in the sort of form to win the next five matches on his own. Sir Alex Ferguson billed this match rather ambitiously as a World Cup final, when until Drogba arrived with the knockout blow it was actually more like a shadow-boxing version of a heavyweight title fight. United and Chelsea seem to need lead in their gloves when Wayne Rooney and Drogba are reduced to spectators, though at least Joe Cole remembered to pack a surprise punch, giving his side a deserved lead they never really looked like losing before the second-half goals brought predictable controversy,

“That’s twice we’ve been beaten by refereeing decisions, it happened at Stamford Bridge as well,” Ferguson said. “The linesman is right in front of Drogba and he gets it wrong. It was a poor, poor performance from the officials in a game of this magnitude. The quality of the officials has cost us, though I must admit we looked leggy in the first half and Chelsea were by far the better team. They have got to be favourites now, Chelsea are in the driving seat. We can win all our remaining five games and we still won’t win the title if Chelsea win theirs.”

If that was a last, slightly desperate attempt to increase the pressure on the London side, Carlo Ancelotti was having none of it. “We are not favourites,” the Chelsea manager said. “We are top of the league but nothing is decided yet. There are still five matches to play and we have to stay focused.”

A first half remarkable only for the meekness of United’s approach suggested Chelsea ought to be able to hold their nerve, even if they are more thoroughly tested in away games to come at Liverpool and Spurs. Just about the only memorable moment was Cole’s well-taken goal, the one that prompted Chelsea fans to chant with some justification that Old Trafford was surprisingly quiet. United’s defence melted away alarmingly as Gary Neville and Darren Fletcher allowed Florent Malouda to reach the byline. When he pulled back a low cross there was only Patrice Evra guarding Cole in the middle, and though Cole had his back to goal, the Frenchman and Edwin van der Sar were confounded by a backheel flick that rolled gently across the line.

United could have few complaints about going behind. With Park Ji-sung oddly stationed in the centre of a three-man advanced midfield line, Dimitar Berbatov was short of support and apart from a couple of optimistic penalty shouts the home side rarely threatened. Berbatov failed to make a convincing case for himself, either as Rooney’s deputy or a presence capable of leading the attack on his own. Too much of the game passed him by and too often he was easily knocked off the ball. Neither of those charges can normally be levelled at Rooney.

There were ironic cheers from the home support when Mike Dean awarded Berbatov a free kick after being mown down by John Terry, though it would be over generous to say all the time the Bulgarian spent on the floor was through fouls the referee had not spotted.

Chelsea could have made the points safe at the start of the second half when Cole cleverly played Paulo Ferreira behind the United defence, only for the full-back to fail to supply anything like a striker’s finish. United enjoyed a strong 20 minutes chasing an equaliser after that, the crowd roaring them on as of old, yet all they had to show for the pressure were a couple of headers from Berbatov that were not close enough to the target to trouble Petr Cech.

Chelsea opened out the game again by the simple expedient of bringing Drogba and Salomon Kalou on for the last 20 minutes, and though the former was clearly offside when the latter’s reverse pass played him in, the flag stayed down and a trademark finish exploded past Van der Sar at his near post. Macheda bundled in a reply almost immediately after Cech had palmed out Nani’s cross, though if the crowd expected a grandstand finish they were disappointed. Those days appear to have gone, at least until Rooney comes back.

Berbatov did force a save from Cech late in the game but the real story was of United being outplayed in other areas of the pitch. Even Rooney’s return will not solve everything, and it will certainly not knock any years off the combined age of Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, who were unable to generate any sort of dynamism against the supposedly geriatric Chelsea.

It was Ferguson who remarked last season that Chelsea are getting on a bit, yet United are hardly an advert for youthful vigour. The average age of their starting line-up, for a game they knew might decide the title, was 31. Small wonder Chelsea were able to hold on to their lead. Suddenly that looks like being the story of the rest of the season.

THE FANS’ PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

SHAUN O’DONNELL, Observer reader For a team that has only won the league twice in the last 50 years Chelsea have an incredible arrogance about them. I can’t say the result flattered them though, as we didn’t really turn up. Our passing was poor and we didn’t create anything in midfield. The game during the week took the spark out of us and the fact that we were without our talisman, Rooney, contributed. We had nothing up front. Once we went back to 4-4-2 we looked more threatening. Mike Dean was poor and Drogba’s goal was clearly offside. I don’t think this has handed Chelsea the title, though, as both teams will drop points.

The fan’s player ratings Van der Sar 6; Neville 5, Ferdinand 6, Vidic 7, Evra 7; Scholes 7 (Macheda 71 7), Fletcher 7 (Gibson 86 n/a); Valencia 6, Park 6 (Nani 71 7), Giggs 6; Berbatov 6

TRIZIA FIORELLINO, Chelsea Supporters Group We were dominant in the first half, we controlled the game and were very comfortable on the ball. We got the goal we deserved and were unlucky not to get a penalty for the foul on Anelka – it looked pretty clear cut. United were more physical and we dealt with that, though Scholes was lucky to stay on the pitch. They came out like a train in the second half and we were like rabbits in the headlights but it looked like game over after Drogba’s goal. The last 10 minutes were the longest of my life. The title race is wide open; we’ve got the advantage but so many people have called it wrong, I’m keeping schtum.

The fan’s player ratings Cech 8; Ferreira 8, Alex 8, Terry 8, Zhirkov 9; Mikel 9; Cole 8 (Kalou 73 8), Lampard 8, Deco 9 (Ballack 82 n/a), Malouda 9; Anelka 8 (Drogba 69 8)

TO TAKE PART IN THE FANS’ VERDICT, SPORT@OBSERVER.CO.UK

Manchester United suffered a major blow to their hopes of landing a fourth successive title after losing to arch rivals Chelsea.

Goals from Joe Cole and Didier Drogba put the visitors firmly in control before United staged a brave rally in which substitute Federico Macheda produced a late reply. 

A controversial Didier Drogba goal puts a huge dent in United’s title hopes.

Preamble. Do you need one? For this game? No. No you don’t.

Team news, with neither bell nor whistle. Didier Drogba and Michael Carrick are only on the bench. Chelsea are unchanged from the side that trounced Aston Villa 7-1 a week ago; Sir Alex Ferguson changes his side for the 117th consecutive match. Drogba doesn’t have a great record against United and had a stinker here last season; Carrick had a stinker in midweek and was also omitted from this fixture last season.

Manchester United: Van der Sar; Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Fletcher, Scholes; Valencia, Giggs, Park; Berbatov.
Subs: Kuszczak, Carrick, Nani, Rafael Da Silva, Macheda, Gibson, De Laet.

Chelsea: Cech; Ferreira, Terry, Alex, Zhirkov; Mikel; J Cole, Lampard, Deco, Malouda; Anelka.
Subs: Turnbull, Drogba, Ballack, Kalou, Sturridge, Belletti, Bruma.

Referee:

Mike Dean (Wirral)

Kick off: 12.45pm.

The teams are out. John Terry and Gary Neville stand in the tunnel, trying their damndest to appear ‘ARD. Terry manages to carry off the look with ease, having a head made entirely of brick, but Neville not so much. He’s got very many qualities of which he should be proud, but all this Keane-style posturing isn’t that convincing. He can’t hold a steely gaze ahead without sneaking a quick peek at the camera every now and then, for starters. He’s the Russell Howard to Keane’s Frankie Boyle.

And we’ve started! Chelsea are up for this by the looks of it, for the first two minutes sees a shot from Deco from just outside the area, and a right-wing cross that only just sails above Anelka’s head in the centre. “Please for the love of god take that frightening picture of a clown off the page,” pleads Zach Simm. “It’s downright hideous and scary.” It’s either that or Gary Neville, the choice is yours.

4 min: Another ball in from the right by Chelsea. This time Alex gets his nut on it, but can only head wide left. A really strong start from the away team.

5 min: United respond well, Berbatov sashaying down the left and cutting a ball back only just missed by Scholes. Then Neville tears down the right, again pulling a ball back into the centre; Terry sweeps up.

7 min: Malouda romps into the United half with the ball at his feet and a lot of free turf ahead of him. He foolishly attempts to immediately spring Anelka clear down the left, allowing Ferdinand to swan over and mop up. United looked exposed for a split second there. “Got to pity Dean today,” begins Neil Andrew, possibly the most generous man in the world. “He really is in a no-win situation. Every Chelsea fan I know is convinced he’s a United fan (because he’s from the Wirral, which is in Cheshire), every United fan I know believes him to be a Liverpool fan (because he’s from the Wirral, which is in Merseyside). Maybe if he took to the pitch wearing a Tranmere shirt (the team he actually does support and has therefore never refereed) it would help? Or would that just annoy the Norwich fans?”

10 min: Valencia scoots past Zhirkov, reaches the byline, and nips a delightful ball back into the centre for Berbatov, who gets a decent header in, though the effort isn’t on target, wide right and high. United are concentrating on these here flanks by the looks of it.

12 min: Vidic gives the ball away twice in two seconds down his left, gifting the ball to Anelka, who rolls the ball into the centre for Cole. The resulting effort, from ten yards out just to the right of goal, is hellish, a soft scoop into Van der Sar’s grateful mitts. Some very nervous play from Vidic, though.

14 min: For an early kick-off, there’s a very decent atmosphere at Old Trafford, both sets of fans giving it plenty. The home support is particularly energised when Evra embarks on a determined run down the left, cutting into the area and unleashing a daisycutter towards the bottom-left corner. Cech is well behind it. This isn’t wide open, but open and entertaining enough for a top-of-the-table Premier League clash, the sort of match that so often disappoints.

17 min: Pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass passity passity pass. Fancy triangles from United, but they go absolutely nowhere. It’s just like watching Arsenal.

19 min: Pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass passity passity pass. Fancy triangles from Chelsea, but they go absolutely nowhere. It’s just like watching Manchester United.

20 min: GOAL!!! Manchester United 0-1 Chelsea. What a finish this is! Malouda bustles down the left, shrugging off about 37 challenges by Fletcher. When he’s level with the six-yard box, he rolls a crisp pass along the floor towards Cole, who with his back to goal, Daniel Aggers a delicious backheel into the right-hand corner, Van der Sar utterly confused.

22 min: Neville finds a yard down the right and, 30-odd yards out, swings a fantastic deep cross into the area. It’s heading right for Berbatov’s head, but the striker’s muscled out of it by Alex and Terry.

24 min: From a United attack that breaks down, Malouda bursts towards the centre circle. He’s fouled and falls over, but the ball breaks to Anelka, and Chelsea break upfield, three on two. When the ball’s spread out right to Deco, Joe Cole completely free in the centre, United look completely exposed, but Deco’s ball into the centre is too strong and misdirected, and a wonderful chance for Chelsea is gone.

26 min: Park twirls and twists just outside the Chelsea area on the right, then breaks into the box. Zhirkov sticks out a boot and sweeps up Park’s left standing leg, sending the United midfielder to the floor. That should be a penalty - but isn’t, Mike Dean waving play on. A very dubious decision, that.

27 min: Deco passes the ball to a team-mate …

28 min: … then is clattered by Paul Scholes, who really should be booked, but isn’t. He gets away with murder, you have to hand it to him.

30 min: Good work by Anelka, who robs Valencia and makes for the Chelsea area. After exchanging passes with Deco, he enters the box - and is clattered off the ball by Neville, who’s wearing his Hard Face again. That should have been a penalty as well, Neville making no attempt whatsoever to play the ball, dumping Anelka to the floor. Justice of sorts, letting referee Dean off the hook.

33 min: Not for the first time in the match, United are exposed at the back, Malouda running strongly towards the United area with options either side. Not for the first time in the match, Chelsea’s final ball is poor, this one between Anelka’s legs, allowing Evra to clear. During the attack, Scholes attempts to scythe down Malouda and misses - and is booked when the play stops for his trouble. His tackling is an absolute disgrace, yet somehow tolerated by everyone in English football with an amused detachment. As I say, you have to hand it to him for getting away with it for so long.

37 min: United are enjoying more of the ball now - they’ve struggled at times to keep hold of it - but they’ve not managed to cause a single bit of bother in the Chelsea area all game.

39 min: To the right of goal, 12 yards out, Berbatov swings a boot at a dropping ball, but can only slice it back up into the air.

42 min: Fletcher and Park combine well in the centre to earn a wee bit of space in the Chelsea half. That space has come at a premium during this half - and it’s wasted, Park playing a terrible ball wide left behind Evra, who had made a dangerous run and would surely have stormed into the box had the ball gone to feet.

44 min: Park plays a beautiful reverse pass down the inside-right channel and into the area for Berbatov, who’s got no-one near him. With his back to goal, he takes far too much time to turn, allowing Lampard to come in and make a last-ditch challenge. Berbatov claims for a penalty, but that was never going to be given. A good decision by the referee. How about that.

44 min and a bit: Perhaps out of frustration, Neville hacks at the back of Malouda’s legs, and is booked.

HALF TIME: Manchester United 0-1 Chelsea. Terry needlessly knocks Berbatov over, 30 yards out to the right. It allows Giggs to swing a free kick into the area, but it’s easily headed clear by Alex - and Chelsea, through the excellent Malouda and Anelka, break clear. Once again United look vunerable on the counter - but Anelka loses the ball and that’s that for the half. United were pretty dismal on the whole, Chelsea fully deserving their half-time lead. Both teams should have had penalties; those won’t be the final refereeing controversies, is my suggestion to you.

And we’re off again! United are shooting towards whatever the Stretford End is called these days. I miss that sign that used to say WONDERFUEL GAS on it. Not sure why. Ah well. Everything changes. “Do you have a thing against people who suffer from coulrophobia?” asks Cosmo Kramer Ian Copestake. “Clown fear is, like Neville’s maturity, easily mocked.”

48 min: Oh what a miss! With Neville playing Ferreira onside, standing miles behind play, the Chelsea man tears free after a Joe Cole ball down the inside-right channel and into the box. He’s got Evra on his heels, but only Van der Sar to beat. Sadly for Chelsea, he kind of bottles it, neither shooting nor passing square into the centre for Anelka. Instead, the ball squirms harmlessly across the face of goal and wide left. What a chance to make it 2-0.

51 min: Fletcher wins a decent ball in the centre, then rolls a ball down the inside-left channel for Giggs and Scholes - both of whom are offside. That’s a bit better from United, though, who haven’t shown much snap in midfield, and bugger all in the way of threat up front. “What is it with clowns?” asks Rob Moline. I dunno. Ask Mike Riley. “I’m not American, so never found them scary, seems to be a peculiar trait of the yanks I’ve never understood. Then again I’m not British; do UKishi find them scary also? (As the Bengali said, you Englishi crack me up calling us Bangladeshis.)”

52 min: Under a deep and high cross from the right, Evra attempts a spectacular volley from the left-hand corner of the area. Come on, let’s be realistic here.

54 min: Scholes loses the ball in the centre circle, allowing Malouda to rip into the United half unchallenged. He’s eventually apprehended on the edge of the area, so flicks the ball out wide to Cole, whose lame shot is deflected safely into Van der Sar’s hands. That was yet another chance for Chelsea to launch a dangerous counter attack. “Scholes is finished,” suggests Gary Naylor, writing the conclusion of this entry for me.

57 min: Instead of battering a free kick from just outside the area on the left goalward, Giggs attempts a clever-clever wrongfooting chip towards the far post, where Berbatov awaits. It never looks great when it goes wrong, does it.

58 min: Fletcher feeds Park on the right-hand edge of the Chelsea box. The effort’s spooned wide right and high, but this is better from United.

60 min: This is a lot better from United, who fling three or four crosses into the Chelsea box, causing the visitors some unease. A period of pressure ends when Giggs clips a cross into the area from the right, Berbatov heading wide left from eight yards when falling backwards. A decent effort from the much-maligned striker.

62 min: Finally United seem to have woken up. Evra curls a cross into the six-yard box from the left. Cech comes out to claim, fails, but does get enough of a fingertip on it to confuse Valencia at the far post. United are piling on the pressure now.

64 min: Chelsea can’t get hold of the ball at all. There’s a comical playground hacking match on the edge of their area, a prone Terry repeatedly hacking about two yards clear, Giggs and Valencia desperately trying to make something happen for United. Eventually Alex comes in and hoofs the ball miles upfield. Chelsea are rocking. “Rob Moline, fear of clowns is a perfectly reasonable thing if you are English,” writes Mark Elliott.

66 min: Another Giggs cross from the right, another Berbatov header. This time, it’s sent flying over the bar - but this is beginning to look like just a matter of time for United, who were hopeless in the first half, but have really upped their game in the second.

69 min: Yet another piss-poor challenge from Scholes, this one upending Malouda in the centre circle. He’s not shown his second yellow of the game, for his third pretty awful tackle. Lucky Paul.

70 min: Drogba replaces Anelka.

71 min: Deco is booked for Scholesing Giggs down the back of his ankle.

72 min: Evra wins a corner down the left. Before it can be taken, Park and Scholes are replaced by Nani and Macheda, the latter in his first Premier League game since scoring that goal against Aston Villa last spring.

73 min: From the corner, a free kick is won just to the left of the area. Cole is booked for timewasting. Evra wins a high ball at the far post, heading onto Malouda’s arm. Fletcher and Ferdinand launch hissy fits because no penalty is awarded, but that was a good decision by the ref.

74 min: Cole is replaced by Kalou.

76 min: Chelsea keep the ball for more than three seconds for the first time in the half. Zhirkov tears down the left and whacks a low, hard cross through the six-yard box. It’s got too much heat on it for Drogba, who is a good few inches away from toe-poking home. “It is possible,” suggests Ian Copestake, “that the Chelsea manager made the classic half-time mistake of saying ‘we can win this’ instead of ‘don’t get complacent’.”

78 min: OUTRAGEOUSLY OFFSIDE GOAL!!! Manchester United 0-2 Chelsea. Chelsea have done nothing all half, and now this. Kalou finds some space in the United area, 30 yards out. He shapes to shoot, but instead rolls a clever ball through the United back line down the inside-right channel for Drogba, who hammers an unstoppable shot into the top-right corner. Van der Sar was near it, but had no chance to stop it. However, Drogba was a good couple of yards offside. It’s not quite Jeff Astle territory, but it was a terrible decision.

81 min: GOAL!!! WITH MORE CONTROVERSY, MUCH AS YOU’D EXPECT!!! Manchester United 1-2 Chelsea. Nani tears down the left and slaps a low cross in. Cech goes down and paws it up into the air. The ball hits Macheda on the chest, then is propelled forward by his right arm and bounces sheepishly into the left-hand side of the net. The goal’s given, though.

82 min: Carlo Ancelotti’s immediate response is to replace Deco with Ballack.

84 min: Lampard has a thump from 25 yards, the effort sailing well wide left.

85 min: Fletcher is booked for arguing against the award of a free-kick on the halfway line. You can’t accuse him of not wanting this.

86 min: Zhirkov, who has had a decent game, puts in another cross from the left. Drogba gets his head on it, eight yards out in the middle, but can’t direct it goalward, the ball clanking out left, wide and high.

88 min: An over-excited Lampard runs offside with Drogba preparing to set him free and alone in the United half. That was one of several Chelsea chances to punish United on the break, all spurned.

89 min: Gibson, by the way, came on for Fletcher a couple of minutes ago. Now then: how much stoppage time do we have coming up? Six minutes minimum is my guess.

90 min: Neville swings one in from the right. Berbatov, standing on the penalty spot, volleys towards the goal - but it’s straight at Cech. There will be four more minutes of this.

90 min +1: A lot of bustle and nothing.

90 min +2: Giggs sends a free kick, from the left of the centre circle, into the Chelsea area. Near the far post, Vidic can’t get much on a header and the ball sails out of play.

90 min +3: Giggs loses the ball near the centre circle. Ballack looks to break off upfield, but is upended by the Welshman. Chelsea are handed a chance to waste some time on a plate. “Berbatov is a lot like Diego Maradona’s dog,” writes Ed Konrady, “just because he doesn’t finish the job doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the effort.”

FULL TIME: Manchester United 1-2 Chelsea. And that’s it. Chelsea’s winner was miles offside - but even so, they deserved that result. They were the better side overall - and are now two clear of Manchester United at the top of the table with five games left to play. “You don’t win anything with old folks,” points out top pundit Niall Harden, setting himself up to become the Alan Hansen de nos jours should United turn this one around over the next few weeks. And of course Mike Dean didn’t disappoint, in that he did.

No Owen, no Rooney. No problem when we have Giggs, Berbatov, Macheda and co.

• United striker could return for Manchester derby in two weeks
• ‘It is a loss but it could have been worse,’ said Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken of his belief that Wayne Rooney’s injury has made it a “good week” for Chelsea and given them a psychological lift as they come to Old Trafford tomorrow for a match that could go a long way to determining the destination of this year’s Premier League title.

The scans on Rooney’s damaged ligaments have shown that he will miss the next two to three weeks, a diagnosis Ferguson described as “good news” in light of his initial concerns that the leading scorer in England’s top division might have been ruled out for the season.

Ferguson described himself as “relieved” but he also conceded that Manchester United’s main rivals for the title would be lifted by the knowledge that they would not have to face a player who has already scored 34 times this season. “It’s been a good week for Chelsea in the sense they know Wayne Rooney has picked up an injury,” he said.

Rooney has targeted the derby against Manchester City on 17 April for his comeback or, failing that, the first leg of a possible Champions League semi-final against Lyon or Bordeaux, should United overcome a 2-1 deficit to get past Bayern Munich in the second leg of their quarter-final at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

“We’re all relieved, particularly when I saw him hobbling off the pitch like he did,” Ferguson said. “It is a loss but it could have been worse. There’s no bone damage, no serious ligament damage, which is obviously good news for us – so the nation can stop praying.”

That last comment was a reference to what Ferguson described as the mood of English football being “one of panic” once Rooney had gone down, in obvious pain, seconds before Ivica Olic scored Bayern’s winning goal in the Allianz Arena on Tuesday night.

But Ferguson admitted that he had also feared the worst for a player who has suffered three metatarsal breaks in the past six years. “You just hope that when you send a player for a scan or an x-ray you are going to get some good news out of it, and we have got good news out of it,” he said.

“It is not as serious as we first feared and the important thing is that he will be back before the end of the season. We think he will be out for two to three weeks.”

In the meantime Dimitar Berbatov will take over as the spearhead of the team’s attack. Michael Owen has already been ruled out for the season, as has Daniel Welbeck, but Ferguson can call upon the fit-again Federico Macheda, who will be on the substitutes’ bench tomorrow.

“We don’t want injuries, particularly to our best players,” Gary Neville, the United captain, said. “Wayne will be a big miss for us because he has been in such great form but in the past people have always stood up to the plate and contributed.

“We have had key players out for big matches before and still won them. We have gone into finals without two or three major players and come through it. Chelsea have players missing too. They don’t have Michael Essien or Ashley Cole. All teams get injuries and suspensions on the run-in. You have to cope.”

United are one point ahead of Chelsea as they aim to establish two new records by winning a fourth successive league title and their 19th in total. “If one team wins tomorrow, it is a significant step forward for them,” Ferguson said. “If we win, we go four points clear with five games left. If Chelsea win, they are two points ahead of us. A draw, nothing changes and it will be very tight until the end of the season.”

The league championship has not been settled on goal difference since Arsenal won the title in 1989 but part of Ferguson’s reason for missing Rooney is that he believes it could come into play this season. “With Chelsea putting seven past Aston Villa last weekend, it has turned the whole goal difference upside down. We had a nice advantage before that but it is only two goals and that can change in a couple of games.”

United, nonetheless, may have to improve significantly from their midweek performance in Germany. “We just could not keep possession of the ball in the way we normally do,” Ferguson said. “It was ridiculous. I think there are goals there [without Rooney] but first of all we have got to improve our performance level because we were well under our normal form and it is difficult to say why.”

Owen Hargreaves, who has been out for 20 months with knee problems, and John O’Shea, sidelined since November, are both in contention for a place on the bench.

• New deal will keep Fabio at Old Trafford until 2014
• Brazilian teenager viewed as major talent of the future

Fabio da Silva, the Manchester United defender, has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2014. The Brazilian teenager has made 13 appearances for the Old Trafford club this season and is viewed as a major talent for the future.

“Fabio is a natural footballer who will make a fine Manchester United player in the years to come,” Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, said. “He has had some bad luck with injuries but he will make a fine Manchester United player.”

Fabio’s brother Rafael signed a two-year contract extension last season. The pair are viewed as likely United full-backs of the future given their attacking instincts. Fabio was sent off against Wolves in the Carling Cup earlier this season but that misdemeanour has not dampened his enthusiasm for life at Old Trafford.

“Playing for Manchester United is every young player’s dream,” said the Brazilian. “I am very happy and proud to commit my future to the club. In the time I have been here, I have learned a lot from the world-class players I train with and I hope that as time goes on, I can contribute more and more to the success of this great club.”

Chelsea will never give thanks for elimination from the Champions League, but they have at least had a period of rest after their elimination by Internazionale. Manchester United, on the other hand, showed the first symptoms of fatigue when losing to Bayern Munich on Tuesday after taking the lead. The test here for Sir Alex Ferguson is to come up with a lineup that has sufficient vigour while also containing the essential experience for a game that could go far towards determining the outcome of the Premier League title race. Kevin McCarra

Venue Old Trafford, Saturday 12.45pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Manchester United 3 Chelsea 0

Referee M Dean

This season’s matches 24 Y97, R6, 4.29 cards per game

Odds Manchester United 13-8 Chelsea 9-5 Draw 23-10

Manchester United

Subs from Foster, Kuszczak, Scholes, Rafael, J Evans, Gibson, Obertan, Diouf, Fabio, O’Shea, Park, Hargreaves, Macheda

Doubtful Hargreaves (match fitness), O’Shea (thigh)

Injured Brown (foot, 24 Apr), Rooney (ankle, 24 Apr), Owen (hamstring, Aug), Welbeck (knee, Aug), Anderson (knee, Sep)

Suspended None

Form guide WWWWWL

Disciplinary record Y41 R4

Leading scorer Rooney 26

Chelsea

Subs from Hilário, Turnbull, Belletti, Bruma, Van Aanholt, Sturridge, Kakuta, Borini, Kalou, Ballack, Matic, Anelka

Doubtful Ballack (ankle), Drogba (calf), Hilário (groin)

Injured Ivanovic (knee, 10 Apr), A Cole (ankle, 25 Apr), Carvalho (ankle, May), Essien (knee, May), Bosingwa (knee, Aug)

Suspended None

Form guide WWDWLW

Disciplinary record Y46 R4

Leading scorer Drogba 24

Match pointers

• Sir Alex Ferguson has lost five of his six managerial meetings with Carlo Ancelotti

• Since 2004-05, Chelsea have picked up an average of 2.36 points per game in April, while Manchester United have managed 1.81

• Since the start of the 2008-09 season, United have won 10 of the 11 Premier League games that Wayne Rooney has missed

• Didier Drogba has failed to score in eight Premier League appearances against United

• The last four goals conceded by United at Old Trafford have all been from headers

Neville says Reds are well aware of the importance of a win over Chelsea.

Tomorrow’s Old Trafford summit could shape the destiny of the title, and these three contests will shape the game itself

Nemanja Vidic v Didier Drogba

It is nearly three years since Didier Drogba last scored against United – even if that goal did settle the 2007 FA Cup final – but he is still a great danger. Nemanja Vidic, who is settling down and showing that he has regained the fitness needed to appear regularly, has the strength to match the Ivorian. Drogba, however, also has moments of great dexterity and explosiveness. The defender will hope to cause the sort of frustration that can see this attacker lose his focus.

Patrice Evra v Paulo Ferreira

Paulo Ferreira, the Chelsea right-back, has started only seven Premier League matches this season and four of those have come since 13 March, because of injuries to others. His experience is undoubted but Carlo Ancelotti does not normally favour him. United will surely use the overlapping Patrice Evra and others to try to expose a potential weakness on that flank. The Frenchman is not especially flamboyant, despite being a winger in his youth, but his work-rate and all-round ability mean that he will help put pressure on Ferreira.

Dimitar Berbatov v John Terry

Gladness in Chelsea’s ranks over Wayne Rooney’s absence must be offset by the knowledge that his replacement has outstanding touch and vision. Dimitar Berbatov has enough sinewy force not to be bullied by John Terry and his movement may make him even harder to track than Rooney. The Bulgarian’s ratio of goals to games has been impressive this season, but the challenge is to show that a sometimes laconic individual can be a key performer on an occasion of this magnitude.

Nani says the squad relish the big games at this time of the season.

Bryan Robson is backing the Reds to succeed in a hugely significant week.

Ex-Reds striker Andrew Cole backs Dimitar to deliver in Wayne’s absence.

United fan and freelance journo Nathan Thomas picks his side for Saturday.

• Chelsea hope to make most of Wayne Rooney’s absence
• Carlo Ancelotti boosted by return of Didier Drogba

Carlo Ancelotti admits that Wayne Rooney’s absence could allow his Chelsea side to seize the initiative in the title race from Manchester United when the two clubs clash at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Rooney is certain to miss this potentially crucial match after suffering ankle ligament damage in United’s 2-1 defeat at Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The United striker has scored 35 goals in all competitions, 26 of them in the Barclays Premier League, and his absence at Old Trafford has already given Chelsea a massive incentive.

Chelsea have smashed 12 goals in their last two games and, with 30-goal Didier Drogba fit again, Ancelotti is hoping the Blues can make the most of Rooney’s loss and go back to the top of the table.

“Everyone knows how Wayne Rooney is important for this team, he is a fantastic player,” Ancelotti said. “He has had a fantastic season but his injury could be an advantage for us.

“Maybe sometimes a team can give more than 100% when an important player is out. We have to pay attention to this.

“We need to show our play and do it for 90 minutes and stay concentrated. Man Utd are a very dangerous team and have a lot of players who can create difficulties for us.

“But we want to keep control of the game and to do this in Old Trafford is not easy. But we will try.

“Saturday is a very important game because we play a fantastic team who are top of the league now but I have always said the title will be decided at the end of the season.

“We will have a very good chance because our moment is good. We are fit and our confidence has improved after wins against Portsmouth and Aston Villa.

“We want to do our best. The destiny after the game will be with the winners, but nothing will be decided.

“If we are able to win, it is better for us. A draw is not a bad result because there are a lot of games and everyone of them is very important.

“But it is very difficult to win at Old Trafford. It is a fantastic stadium for me also, not only for Sir Alex. I won the Champions League there in 2003 and that is the best memory for me in my career.”

Ancelotti does not believe United’s players will be dispirited following their defeat in Munich.

He is also aware that Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad has too much experience to have their minds on the return leg against Germans.

“I don’t think that players of Manchester United will think about that defeat to Bayern,” Ancelotti said. “They have a lot of experience and will be able to look forward to the next game against us and then, after that, stay in focus for the return game against Bayern.”

Ancelotti has been boosted by the return to fitness of Drogba, who missed two days’ training with a minor groin problem.

“Drogba was out but trained very good today,” said Ancelotti. “We have trained very well this week. The team is fit.

“He is a very important player. He has scored 30 goals. The other strikers did a great job against Villa without him, but he is very important to us.”

So far, Ancelotti has twice triumphed over Ferguson this season. Chelsea won the Community Shield 4-1 on penalties at Wembley and then beat United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge thanks to a goal from John Terry.

But Ancelotti insists that this time the pressure will be different because victory is so important for both sides.

Chelsea remain one point adrift of the Red Devils at the summit and so a United win would give Ferguson’s team a massive advantage on the run-in.

“This game is more important than the previous two,” added the Italian. “We are playing for the title so psychologically it is different.”

Owen Hargreaves could be back in the Manchester United squad to face Chelsea.


Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he is considering bringing Hargreaves - who has not played a first-team game since September 2008 after undergoing surgery to both knees - and John O’Shea back into the fold over the coming week.

Chelsea leapfrog Manchester United and lead the league table by two points after a battling win at Old Trafford.

Chelsea boss hopes for another memorable visit to Old Trafford.

• Owen Hargreaves in line for place on Manchester United bench
• Jon O’Shea also close to first-team return

Owen Hargreaves could be back in the Manchester United squad to face Chelsea tomorrow. Sir Alex Ferguson revealed this morning that he is considering bringing Hargreaves – who has not played a first-team game since September 2008 after undergoing surgery to both knees – and John O’Shea back into the fold.

O’Shea has been absent since suffering complications in his recovery from a dead leg sustained in the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup play-off defeat to France in November. Although it appears O’Shea is closer to a comeback, the fact that Hargreaves is not part of United’s European squad and therefore unavailable for Wednesday’s quarter-final second-leg against his former club Bayern Munich lends weight to the belief Ferguson will have the 29-year-old on the bench against Chelsea.

“John O’Shea and Owen Hargreaves have trained very well with the first team,” said Ferguson. “They are not far away and I may use one of them as substitute tomorrow and the other on Wednesday.

“John O’Shea in particular has done a lot of work. The boy has come on terrifically well in the last two or three weeks. If I include one tomorrow and one on Wednesday it will give them the confidence that they are back. That is what they need.”

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said striker Wayne Rooney will be out for two to three weeks with the ankle injury he picked up playing against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.


Rooney’s injury was confirmed as a minor ligament strain by the club on Thursday and the forward could be back to face City in the derby on April 17.

Manchester United’s Brazilian full-back Fabio da Silva has signed a contract extension until 2014.


The Brazilian teenager has made 13 appearances for the Old Trafford outfit this season and is viewed as a major talent for the future.

Sir Alex updates us on injuries, including Rooney’s estimated return date.

• Wayne Rooney will miss Bayern Munich return game
• Striker’s injury confirmed as minor ligament strain

Wayne Rooney will be out injured for two to three weeks, Sir Alex Ferguson said this morning. The Manchester United striker’s injury was confirmed as a minor ligament strain by the club yesterday and the Old Trafford manager said in this morning’s press briefing that the England international would be back within three weeks.

That rules Rooney out of the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich but could enable him to return for the derby against Manchester City on 17 April.

Rooney limped off in pain at the end of United’s 2-1 defeat in the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, provoking fears that his involvement in his club’s run-in and England’s World Cup campaign could be curtailed. But his club manager is now confident of a relatively quick return.

Ferguson said: “[There is] no bone damage or serious ligament damage. The nation can stop praying.

“It was panic,” he continued. “We are relieved. When we saw him hobble off, you are hoping when you send him for a scan, you get some good news. And it could have been worse given the way he hobbled off.

“But it’s out of the way, we can put it to one side and get on with our job on the pitch.”

Rooney’s participation in the World Cup will not now be threatened, which will come as an immense relief to the manager Fabio Capello.

United, however, will suffer, starting tomorrow against Chelsea and continuing to Wednesday’s Old Trafford return with Bayern Munich, matches that could shape their season.

Yet Ferguson knows his 34-goal forward will be back at some point this month, which is all he could have hoped for when he saw Rooney strip his right boot off as Bayern celebrated their stoppage-time winner in the Allianz Arena this week.

“We are relieved,” admitted the Scot. “When we saw him hobbling off and then sent him for a scan you are hoping to get some good news out of it – and we have. It could have been worse.”

The loss of Rooney clearly causes Ferguson a problem. Yet in sticking with a single striker, a formation in which Berbatov has no role, Ferguson has given himself an instant replacement.

The Bulgarian cannot be expected to match Rooney’s workrate – few in the United squad could – but the club spent a club record £30.75m on him for a reason and Ferguson does not expect the former Tottenham Hotspur striker to let him down.

“I haven’t liked leaving Dimitar out – and now he is in,” said the United manager. “Having one striker has been quite successful for us away from home in Europe in particular. It suited the pattern of our game away from home.

“But it is not easy leaving out a good player like that because he can make something happen in the last third. We just have to decide the best formation.”

It suggests Ryan Giggs will be asked to supply more forward momentum, possibly at the expense of Nani, with the energy of Park Ji-sung and Darren Fletcher complementing the central midfield talents of Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia’s guile out wide.

Ferguson is also set to name either Owen Hargreaves or John O’Shea on the bench after their long injury-enforced absences, which will give United a useful end-of-season fillip ahead of a game where a point will be enough to retain the Premier League leadership.

Irrespective of his side’s make-up, Ferguson is aware they must produce a more effective performance than they managed in Munich.

Although most observers felt the flying start Rooney gave United against Bayern would set the scene for a memorable victory, Ferguson detected a slackness in possession that got no better as the evening went on.

“We have to improve,” said Ferguson. “It is difficult to say why we were so poor at keeping possession because it has always been a really strong part of our game. Maybe it was just one of those nights. I suppose I have to think that way.”

Today’s piffle is a back from the dead

It may be 2 April but the long shadow of April Fool’s Day continues to hang heavy over the world of football transfer gossip this morning, with several newspapers clearing out their traditional flimflam to report on the success or failure of their own or other people’s hilarious 1 April wind-ups. The Mail trumpet that their gag, suggesting that West Ham were to be sponsored by Ann Summers next season, “swept the world”, including “websites in Holland, Brazil and Thailand”. In South Africa, news agency News24 suggested that the French, Portuguese, Italian, German and Dutch national anthems would be banned from the World Cup because of the explicit violent imagery in their lyrics, which made it at least as far as the Daily Telegraph.

It wasn’t just traditional news outlets who were busy creating hilarious hoaxes. Southampton reported on their own website that, just as World Cup winners add a star above their country’s crest, they were to celebrate their success in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy by embroidering a golden paintbrush on to future shirts. Burnley unveiled their only slightly fictional new and entirely knitted shirt. Even the Rumour Mill was in on the act, dumping the traditional rumours in favour of an all-too-believable suicide note. Well, dear readers, here we are, back from the dead. Although still with no room for your comments.

And it’s no longer April Fool’s Day, which means that instead of filling their pages with faintly original made-up drivel, we have to read a load of utterly predictable made-up drivel. And let’s start with news that Milan are lining up a £20m move for Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic. If it doesn’t come off, they’ll try to sign Simon Kjaer from Palermo. If it does come off, United will try to sign Simon Kjaer from Palermo. Either way, Simon Kjaer should probably start packing.

José Mourinho will sell Mario Balotelli in the summer — with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City among his possible destinations — to finance a bid for Steven Gerrard. That’s unless the swarthy Portuguese has left Internazionale by then, that is. Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta has alleged that Chelsea offered him a £7m bung in 2004 if they would sell Ronaldinho. “It’s total nonsense,” said a Chelsea spokesman.

Fulham are manoeuvring towards the Turkish striker Semih Senturk, whose contract at Fenerbahce runs out in June, but they will have to fight off rival offers from France. Kyle Lafferty, Rangers’ £2.5m-rated forward, is being eyed by Mick McCarthy, who may have bumped into scouts from PSV Eindhoven at Glasgow airport, on their way to check out Motherwell’s Mark Reynolds. “It’s true, they have watched him on several occasions,” said the 22-year-old centre-back’s agent, Kenny Moyes, who also reported interest from “a few teams in the English Championship”.

Nadir Belhadj’s agent is considerably less informed, knowing nothing about an offer from Roma. “I know nothing in regards to an offer from Roma,” he said. “It’s obvious that there must be some basis to this rumour — otherwise, why would people be speaking about it?”

Goalkeeper news now, and Notts County have slapped a £2m price tag on Kasper Schmeichel, who is wanted by Birmingham and Blackburn. “I think he’s worth that,” says the owner Ray Trew. Over at Derby, their goalie Stephen Bywater has launched beansprog.com, a baby stuff trading site.

Finally, the top story from today’s news pages, the Mirror reports that “David Cameron sparked Easter fury yesterday by admitting he used to shoot rabbits”. Not content with gunning down our harmless fluffy friends, the Conservative leader also defended hunting as “an opportunity to see parts of the countryside you’ve never seen before”. An undoubted pleasure that, for at least one participant, is limited by the rather pressing need to find somewhere to hide from the pack of baying, slavering, blood-crazed death hounds before they rip your flesh clean from your bones.

• Didier Drogba recovers from knock in time to play
• Chelsea still have five players ruled out of United match

The Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has recovered from a training knock and will lead their attack against Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Drogba sat out last weekend’s 7-1 victory over Aston Villa and missed two training sessions after collecting a minor leg injury in training.

Michael Essien (knee), Ashley Cole (ankle), Ricardo Carvalho (ankle), and José Bosingwa (knee) are all sidelined along with Branislav Ivanovic (knee).

The Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, also believes Wayne Rooney’s absence with the injury picked up at Bayern Munich on Tuesday will give his side the edge at Old Trafford.