Two of world football’s great tacticians go head-to-head for only the second time in a competitive match when Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea puts its unbeaten record in the Premier league on the line against louis van Gaal’s Manchester United on Sunday.
Mourinho was given his break in management by Van Gaal when he worked as an assistant to the Dutchman at Barcelona from 1997-2000, and the mutual respect between the pair lasts to this day. When Mourinho’s Inter Milan beat Van Gaal’s Bayern Munich 2-0 in the 2010 Champions league final, it was a win for the pupil over his master.
“Maybe it will be a tactical affair,” United midfielder Daley Blind said. “I think both coaches are very strong at that point, so maybe it will be a tight game.”
Chelsea heads to Manchester as the Premier league leader and the only unbeaten team after eight games. United is 10 points behind in sixth place.
COSTA A DOUBT
Chelsea could be without Diego Costa for a third straight match, with the Spain striker having been admitted to a hospital with a severe stomach virus in the days after his return from international duty.
Costa, who has also been struggling with nagging hamstring problems, has been released from the hospital and his condition is improving, but it’s unclear whether he’ll be ready to play on Sunday.
Mourinho could also be missing loic Remy as he limped off with a groin injury during the 6-0 win over Maribor in the Champions league.
United captain Wayne Rooney is also out as he serves the final game of a three-match suspension.
WHY AlWAYS HIMIJ
After his latest brush with controversy, Mario Balotelli may find himself on liverpool’s substitutes’ bench for Saturday’s home match against Hull.
liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers reprimanded Balotelli for exchanging shirts with Real Madrid defender Pepe at halftime of a Champions league match on Wednesday.
“Any action will be kept between ourselves,” Rodgers said Thursday. “We just had a conversation about the culture in this country and in particular liverpool and that is it. Matter closed.”
Rickie lambert could start up front for fifth-place liverpool at Anfield.
SUNDERlAND BACKlASH
On the wrong end of an 8-0 hammering last weekend, Sunderland goes looking for payback when it hosts Arsenal on Saturday.
Sunderland’s players have offered to refund the travel and ticket costs for the 2,500 fans who made the 700-mile trip to watch the team capitulate at Southampton on Saturday. Any unclaimed money will go to a hospice.
Arsenal, which has defensive problems with Mathieu Debuchy and laurent Koscielny out injured, is without a win in three league games and is already 11 points behind Chelsea and in seventh place.