CHELSEA MAN UNITED

FA Cup - 5th Round

18 February 2019

Kick Off: 19:30 GMT Monday

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Referee: Kevin Friend

Odds: Home 21/20 Draw 5/2 Away 5/2

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Pre-Match Conference

Preview

Chelsea begin a fortnight of games that could make or break the season with Monday’s FA Cup last 16 matchup against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, a rematch of last year’s final that Chelsea won thanks to an Eden Hazard penalty.

Assistant manager Gianfranco Zola promised a strong lineup for the Blues, which sounds reasonable considering that this game is sandwiched between the two legs of our Europa League Round of 32 tie against Malmö FF, which we should be able to win with our hands tied behind our backs. But Chelsea made fairly hard work of the third best team in Sweden, so it remains very hard to know what sort of performance to expect from the players.

Match Facts

Head-to-head

• Chelsea could become the first team to eliminate Manchester United in five consecutive FA Cup meetings.
• They meet in the FA Cup for the fifth time in six years, including replays. Chelsea won 1-0 on the last three occasions, following a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in 2013.
• The Red Devils have won just two of their last 22 away games against Chelsea, failing to win any of their last nine.
• This will be the 64th time in less than 22 years that these two clubs have met, making it the most-played fixture between English sides since the start of the 1997-98 season.

Chelsea

• The defending champions are seeking to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the fourth consecutive season. They've reached the past two finals.
• Chelsea have progressed from their last 10 FA Cup home games, including a shootout win against Norwich.
• The Blues could keep five clean sheets in a row for the first time in the FA Cup.
• They have lost six of their last 14 league matches, having gone unbeaten in the first 12 this season.

Manchester United

• The Red Devils have eliminated the FA Cup holders on an unrivalled 10 occasions. They last did so in 2011-12 against Manchester City.
• United, vying to equal Arsenal's record of 13 FA Cup titles, are looking to reach the quarter-finals for the fifth consecutive season. They last achieved that feat in 1966.
• They have scored in their first 18 away games of a season in all competitions for the first time.
• Former Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku has scored 13 goals in his last 15 FA Cup appearances.

Manager Comments

Gianfranco Zola said: "We know that it's a crucial moment. It's very challenging, I think the key will be to face each task by only thinking about that task.

"The first one is going to be United and we come into this game after a good performance in the Europa League. It's a good challenge, it's actually what we need to do right now.

"We know that we have to be consistent. We all know this. It's important everyone knows the situation and is working on it, players, coaches and club."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: "It's a chance for anyone who plays, if it's Alexis or Romelu or who starts or [Tahith] Chong or Angel [Gomes].

"Anthony and Jesse have done very well for us, they're vital in the attacking part with their attributes with their pace but then again with Rom and Alexis, they've got different skillsets so they will be able to show what they can do."

Team News

Chelsea

• Chelsea have no fresh injury concerns ahead and will give a late fitness test to Ruben Loftus-Cheek after the recurrence of his persistent back problem.

• Left-back Marcos Alonso could return after being omitted from Maurizio Sarri's squad for the trip to Sweden in midweek.

Manchester United

• Along with Lingard and Martial - who were injured in Tuesday's 2-0 loss to PSG in the Champions League - Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian are also absentees because of minor injuries.

Lineups

Chelsea Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Pedro, Higuain, Hazard

Manchester United Romero; Young, Lindelof, Jones, Shaw; Matic, Herrera, Pogba; Lukaku, Mata, Rashford

Form

Format Credit: u/YIIZWL

P.S.: Please comment if any information is wrong or any suggestions for thread.