A game in English football that was once the battle for the top. The battle between two teams that were always striving to be the best. Both clubs trying to get the prestigious title of the best team in English football. Today, this isn’t the case with Manchester United flattering to deceive in recent years. Chelsea last won a league title in the 2016/17 season adding an FA cup the following season, but Manchester United’s last league title was Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in 2013. Although, United have added the odd trophy, they have had a lack of success when you look in comparison to the 25 years under Ferguson in which they were in no doubt as to who was the very best of English Football.
The fixture between Manchester United and Chelsea always has that buzz of excitement about it. A fixture that brings so much passion to add to the excitement that makes fans love football. It’s a game that brings so many memories back that puts a smile on the face of either teams’ fans. Some great games have occurred between these two teams over the years. A list of games has been compiled to look at some great games between these two old foes of the game. Let’s take a journey down memory lane:
Manchester United 3-2 Chelsea: 1999/2000
In the second meeting of the 1999/2000, this was a game of revenge for Manchester United. In the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea emphatically stopped United’s winning run by beating a ten-man United team 5-0. In a nostalgic game for United fans, it saw Yorke Dwight Yorke bag a brace and current manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scoring the other.
Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea: 2008 (Champions league Final)
The most memorable game between the two, especially for Manchester United fans. A famous chant of John Terry messing up his spot is still sung in the stands at Old Trafford today. A goal from Ronaldo, a John Terry slip, and a fine penalty save from Van Der Sar in Moscow brought one of the most famous nights in the club’s history as it saw the Reds lift their third Champions league title.
Manchester United 3-0 Chelsea: 2008/09
A stunning display and a cunning set piece tactic saw Chelsea being blown away by the then champions. This game had the famous corner routine where Wayne Rooney rolled the ball of the corner spot for Ryan Giggs to run off with the ball and set up a Ronaldo header for it to wrongly being disallowed. It didn’t matter in the end with the following corner being scored by Nemanja Vidic and the reds running rampant on a day where Chelsea couldn’t handle United’s quality.
Manchester United 3-3 Chelsea: 2011/2012
Manchester United had a poor start to the game with the reds going 3-0 down after some poor defending and lack of concentration. In a time where United may have been down but never out, they fought their way back to make it 3-3. Two penalties that were converted by Wayne Rooney and a third headed in by Chicharito completed the comeback from the Red Devils.
Manchester United 4-0 Chelsea: 2019/20120
The start of Solskjaer’s first full season in charge at Manchester United saw him oversee a 4-0 victory against newly appointed Frank Lampard’s Chelsea team. Rashford scoring a brace, Martial looked to enjoy getting his number 9 shirt back by adding a goal and debutant Daniel James scoring adding an emotional tribute to his Father who had passed away just before the Welshman signed for Manchester United. A great start to the season for the reds leaving the fans hopeful for an exciting season. That lasted long.