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Manchester United vs Chelsea – The Paul Pogba impact and 2 other key things to watch out for

Manchester United vs Chelsea – Three things to watch out for

Manchester United and Chelsea may not be territorial rivals but the two clubs have quite a rich history of rivalry nonetheless. Both are English powerhouse sides in the present day and with the dynamic Jose Mourinho and fiery Antonio Conte in charge, this will be one epic clash.

The previous encounter this season ended in an embarrassing loss for United as the Red Devils had travelled to Stamford Bridge. Now, the club will look to exact revenge as the Blues travel all the way to Old Trafford on Sunday, 25th February.

However, this time, the stakes are so much higher. It is not just a match between the two rivals clubs anymore. At present, three points are separating the two clubs and this match could play a pivotal role in deciding who the top-four could be.

If things go United’s way, they will have a decent lead in second place once more but if Chelsea manage to snatch the points, they will significantly close the gap and put themselves in the driver’s seat once more.

With that in mind, here are 3 things to look out for as the two rivals face each other in a high-octane clash at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Mourinho-Conte Rivalry To Continue

There have been some famous rivalries between managers in the past but it is safe to say that these two are on a different level. From calling out on match-fixing scandals to suggesting the other has dementia, Conte and Mourinho have been through it all.

However, recently, there was this moment in a press conference when Conte was presented with a ‘gift from Mourinho’, which was a Manchester United jersey signed by the United gaffer. While this does make for entertaining stuff off the field, it will be interesting to see how these two fares on the field.

Paul Pogba And His Impact In Big Games

Pogba has had a topsy-turvy season so far and although he has done well on certain occasions, there have been times when he went completely invisible.

In fact, he is one figure who has impressed and frustrated a lot of the fans thus far but the upcoming clash will be a good chance for him to redeem himself. One thing is for sure – he cannot take the responsibility of playing in a deeper role and it remains to be seen how he fares against the defending champions on Sunday.

Chelsea’s Defence vs Alexis Sanchez

Now, signing Alexis Sanchez was perhaps the coup deal of this season but he is yet to prove himself on the big stage for the Red Devils. This will be quite an opportunity for him but the hardened Chelsea defence will not make things any easier for him.

The likes of Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta have been absolutely solid for Chelsea and with such a big game ahead, they will be at their best to keep trouble from the Chilean attacker at bay.