Chapter 416 It's the Devil's Schedule Again

The draw of the Champions League quarter-finals is calm. Except for a Premier League derby, there is no strong dialogue in the traditional sense. How many variables are hidden in these four duels?

The battle between Manchester United and Chelsea is a match between two Premier League giants, as well as a match between Ferguson and Ancelotti. Judging from the Premier League standings, Manchester United has one more game, 9 points more than Chelsea. In the Champions League final of the 07/08 season, Manchester United also defeated Chelsea in the penalty shootout, but Judging from the historical background, it is not that Chelsea has no chance to play against Manchester United.

Chelsea's biggest opportunity is in Ancelotti. In fact, Ancelotti and Ferguson played four times in the Champions League. In the Champions League 1/8 final of the 04/05 season, Ancelotti's AC Milan defeated Manchester United 1-0 at home and away, and the goal was scored by Crespo. In the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League semi-finals, AC Milan led by Ancelotti completed a clean reversal 3-0 at home and eliminated Manchester United again. It is worth mentioning that after Ancelotti led the team to eliminate Manchester United twice and reached the final.

The feud between Ancelotti and Ferguson is still being written in the Premier League. In the two matches of the Premier League this season, in the 18th round, Chelsea, which had already lost five rounds, defeated Manchester United 2-1. Ancelotti's record against Ferguson reached 3 wins and 1 loss, with a huge advantage. Of course, Manchester United's schedule will be a favorable factor, because Ancelotti has eliminated Ferguson's Manchester United twice before, and Manchester United's schedule is first and then away.

There is also an objective situation. Chelsea doesn't have much rush in the league. If Ancelotti wants to stay in office, he must make a difference in the Champions League, while Manchester United is at the top of the league but only 3 points more than Arsenal's game. The current situation must not be distracted by Ferguson.

In summary, although Manchester United is in a superior state, Chelsea is not afraid of Manchester United, especially Ancelotti is not afraid of Ferguson. Coupled with Chelsea's desperate situation, Chelsea has a greater chance of promotion among the two teams.

Manchester United drew Chelsea in the draw of the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Judging from the schedule, Manchester United is an advantage, but if the Lord sees the next Manchester League schedule, even if Chelsea is eliminated, he will never laugh.

The first leg of the quarter-finals between Manchester United and Chelsea will be held on April 6. Four days before, Manchester United challenged London's West Ham away in the Premier League. Three days after playing Chelsea's first round, Manchester United will play Fulham at home in the Premier League; after three days off, Manchester United will have a second-round match with Chelsea at Old Trafford. Within 11 days, Manchester United will play four games against three London teams.

From the second leg with Chelsea, Manchester United ushered in the real devil's schedule, which is also the last devil's schedule of Manchester United this season.

On April 12, Manchester United will play the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final with Chelsea; on April 16, they will play the FA Cup semi-final match between Wembley and Manchester City; on April 23, Manchester United will play the difficult Everton at home in the Premier League; if they can defeat Chelsea and advance to the Champions League half In the final, on April 26, Manchester United will go away to challenge the winners of Inter and Schalke 04; on May 1, Manchester United will have an early final battle with Arsenal; on May 4, Manchester United will face the winners of Inter and Schalke 04 at home in the Champions League semi-finals; on May 7, Manchester United will They played against Chelsea at home in the league.

That is to say, if they fail to reach the Champions League semi-finals, Manchester United will play five important games in 26 days, twice against Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton and Arsenal. If they successfully reach the semi-finals, Manchester United will play 7 important games in 26 days. In addition to the above four strong enemies, they may also meet the defending Champions League champion Inter Milan twice. In 26 days and 7 games, five of them are against the rich family, which can be called the once-in-a-a-lifetime super devil schedule.

This is the third devil's schedule that Manchester United has encountered this season, but it is also the most difficult devil's schedule. The past two devil schedules have made Manchester United miserable, and this time it is more fierce than ever.

From September 22 to October 2 last year, Manchester United challenged Skencerpe, Bolton, Valencia and Sunderland in 11 days, and finally achieved a record of 2 wins and 2 draws. From February 23 to March 6, Manchester United ushered in the second four-game winning streak of the season. In 12 days, they challenged Marseille, Wigan, Chelsea and Liverpool. As a result, they only achieved 1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses.

At present, Manchester United are still advancing in the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup, but relatively speaking, the Premier League and the FA Cup are undoubtedly more realistic. The former is very promising that the number of domestic top leagues will surpass their old rival Liverpool at the end of this season; the latter can win a long season. FA Cup.

If Manchester United fights to the UEFA Champions League and fights with Chelsea, but loses the Premier League and the FA Cup, it is undoubtedly very uneconomical, and it may even be difficult to win a championship. The specific choice depends on Lord Fert's efforts.

Manchester United narrowly defeated Chelsea in the battle for the Premier League title last season, but the Blues were not convinced, because in their opinion, Chelsea beat Manchester United by controversial goals at home and away.

In the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Chelsea captain Terry's final shot, Drogba was suspected of interfering with Van der Sar in the offside position; in the battle of Old Trafford, Drogba's final kill was obviously offside first, but the referee did not give a penalty. With this controversial ball, Chelsea got a decisive three-pointer in Old Trafford.

Judging from the comparison of the strength of the two sides, Chelsea has a slight advantage. Compared with the lineup of the UEFA Champions League final three years ago, Chelsea bought Torres in the winter and introduced Benayong and Ramirez last summer, and their strength has increased.

Manchester United lost Cristiano Ronaldo and Tevez, mainly buying potential stocks such as Valencia, Hernandez and Smarin. However, compared with Chelsea's signing level, Manchester United is still slightly insufficient.

But it should also be noted that the Blues' main lineup is too old, and Drogba's poor condition has become a substitute; Malouda is gradually lost after passing through the brave state at the beginning of the season; Essien and Lampard are often troubled by injuries; Mickel steps in place; what's more, if Alex can't make a smooth comeback, because of the road Iss has lost the qualification to play for Chelsea in the Champions League this season, and Ivanovic guest-back, which will make the right-back position become Chelsea's weakness.

In contrast to Manchester United's lineup, although Ferdinand can't make a comeback in time, as long as Vidic can come back, supplemented by Smalin, Manchester United's middle defense line should not be a big problem. At that time, Rafale is very likely to come back. Manchester United can still make a relatively reasonable defense line. The Red Devils are most likely to be the front. Line combination, it is not an exasurable to say that Manchester United's current front line is the sharpest line in Europe. Rooney plus Li Yu, supplemented by Mexican young player Hernandez, such a front line is horrible.

Since 2002, Manchester United has never been able to win at Stamford Bridge, but for the Red Devils, first away and then home is definitely an advantage. Of course, Manchester United is still facing a three-line battle, and although Chelsea is fighting on two fronts, there is no pressure to compete for the championship in the league. Therefore, Chelsea, who is more eager for the Champions League honor and is determined to use the Champions League honor as a life-saving straw, will be more determined than Manchester United, which may determine the final balance.

However, except for the slightly dominant schedule, for Manchester United, the biggest wealth of the Red Devils is still experienced Ferguson.

In the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, only three days after Chelsea lost a penalty to Manchester United, Chelsea coach Grant was fired. In the summer of 2008, Abu hired the famous Brazilian coach Scolari as the new coach of Chelsea, but the Brazilians were fired early because of their poor coaching record.

Subsequently, Abu asked Hiddink to come to help. The famous Dutch coach, as the caretaker coach, did a very good job. He led the team to win the FA Cup to avoid Chelsea being empty-handed throughout the season.

In the summer of 2009, Abu hired Italian coach Ancelotti as Chelsea's new coach. In his debut season as Chelsea coach, Ancelotti led the team to win the Premier League and the FA Cup. Since the beginning of this season, Chelsea has also been doing well, but with Abu's dismissal of assistant coach Wilkins, Chelsea's condition is plummeting.

Now, Abu has given the death order for Ancelotti. If he can't win the Champions League this season, he will fire the Italians this summer. That is to say, if Ferguson leads Manchester United to eliminate Chelsea in the quarter-finals, it will personally knock the trigger on Ancelotti.

Since the acquisition of Chelsea in the summer of 2003, the Blues have experienced the coaching of six famous coaches: Ranieri, Mourinho, Grant, Scolari, Hiddink and Ancelotti, while Manchester United has always been Sir Alex Ferguson.

If Chelsea is eliminated in the quarterfinals, Sir Alex Ferguson will have the opportunity to see a new opponent this summer, and this will be Abu's seventh coach of Chelsea. It should be another miracle created by Lord Ferre to fight against the other party's six famous commanders in a row with the power of one person.

Back to the Premier League, Manchester United will play against Bolton at Old Trafford in this round.

Manchester United have achieved 5 wins and 1 draw against Bolton in the last 6 games. He beat Bolton in nearly seven home games, scoring 18 goals and conceding only 2 goals. The last time Bolton won at Old Trafford was in September 2002, and now Newcastle midfielder Nolan scored the only goal.

The two sides played 23 games in the Premier League. Manchester United had the upper hand with 15 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses, including 8 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses at home. This is the 119th match between the two sides, after Manchester United had a slight advantage of 51 wins, 25 draws and 42 losses.

Ferguson started a five-match suspension, O'Shea and Rafal were absent due to injury, and Scholes suffered a total of 10 yellow cards and suffered two suspensions. Evans, who recovered from an ankle injury, took turns. Valencia started for the first time since September last year, and Owen and Park Ji-sung entered the bench after recovering injuries.

It was not until the 88th minute that Manchester United broke the deadlock. Valencia passed the ball, and Naninee shot a rebound ball 20 yards behind, which made Yasklenin save and get out of the hand. Li Yu suddenly came out of the crowd and made a make-up shot into the net.

Facing Manchester United No. 9, Bolton can't relax minute by minute, as long as the game is not over, Li Yu has the tireless search for murder.

Manchester United relied on Li Yu's final kill to get three points, while the main opponent Arsenal drew with the opponent.

He conceded a goal in the first 3 minutes. In the 57th minute of the second half, he was hit again because of Almunia's stupid mistake. Seeing that Arsenal was about to face a humiliating defeat, it was "seasonally killed" by a promoted team. Finally, Ashavin and Van Persie stepped forward in time. After a magical and lucky 8 minutes and 2 goals, the Gunners finally avoided embarrasment.

However, coach Wenger's joy could not last for a few minutes, and then on another field, Manchester United relied on Li Yu's final goal and actually scored 3 points with less and more. So in the table, Arsenal, which is temporarily in second place, was once again pulled apart by the leader. They are five points behind Ferguson's team in one less game.

"Today's league has become a competition between the two powers, and only we can compete with Manchester United for the championship. Other teams are too far behind. Unless Chelsea can beat Manchester United and win all the following games, they will have a chance. But this possibility is too small." Before this game, Professor Wenger was still very optimistic about the Gunners' championship situation. Indeed, the most realistic goal for many teams, including Chelsea and Manchester City, is to compete for a place in the Champions League next season. However, compared with the leader Manchester United, what is Arsenal's certainty of winning the championship?

At least from the current momentum, the Arsenal have lost one city first.

From losing the championship in the League Cup final on February 27, to being eliminated by Manchester United in the FA Cup on March 12, Arsenal were out of three events in just 13 days; from the first championship in 6 years, which is almost within reach, to the end of the whole season with empty hands, Wenger's disciple can It is conceivable that after experiencing the reincarnation from heaven to hell, the psychological gap is so great that it has a fierce impact on morale. As for the only league that Arsenal can compete for now, it has been pulled to 5 points in the table. Is it possible that in just 21 days (3 weeks), Arsenal has finished the season ahead of schedule?

At least, Arsenal, which has repeatedly missed a good opportunity to win the championship, I'm afraid it will have to look at the eyes of its rival Manchester United. However, disappointment does not mean despair. At least in the league competition, the Arsenal are not out yet! Because Manchester United is not a piece of iron! At the just-concluded Champions League draw ceremony, Manchester United drew together with Chelsea, and the single-line battle will be Arsenal's biggest advantage to reverse Manchester United.

Let's take a look at the schedule. The first leg of the quarter-finals between Manchester United and Chelsea will be held on April 6. Four days before, Manchester United challenged London's West Ham away in the Premier League. Three days after playing Chelsea's first round, Manchester United will play Fulham at home in the Premier League; after three days off, Manchester United will have a second-round match with Chelsea at Old Trafford. Within 11 days, Manchester United will play four games against three London teams.

In the second round with Chelsea on April 12, Manchester United ushered in the real devil's schedule; four days later, they will play the FA Cup semi-finals against Manchester City at Wembley; on April 23, Manchester United will face Everton in the league; if they can defeat Chelsea and advance to the Champions League semi-finals, April 26 On May 1, Manchester United will go away to challenge the winners of Inter and Schalke 04; on May 1, Manchester United will have a decisive battle with Arsenal in advance of the Premier League championship; on May 4, Manchester United will face the winners of Inter and Schalke 04 at home in the Champions League semi-finals; on May 7, Manchester United will play at home in the league. Chelsea.

That is to say, if they fail to reach the Champions League semi-finals, Manchester United will play five important games in 26 days, twice against Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton and Arsenal. If they successfully reach the semi-finals, Manchester United will play 7 important games in 26 days. In addition to the above four strong enemies, they may also meet the defending Champions League champion Inter twice. In 26 days and 7 games, 5 of them will be against the giants.

On the contrary, Arsenal's next schedule is extremely easy. Not only does it not have to face the terrible and difficult double race of the week, but the next opponents are not all difficult bones.

In the league, they will face Blackburn (home), Blackpool (away), Liverpool (home), Bolton (away), Manchester United (home), Stoke City (away), Villa (home), Fulham (away), and a North London derby against Tottenham. In this analysis, Arsenal's way to win the championship, except for Manchester United, there are only two strong enemies, Tottenham and Liverpool. If they can win the Battle of King's Mountain against Manchester United on May 1, Wenger's team will reverse Manchester United to win the championship. After all, Arsenal will be much easier than Manchester United, which has a close schedule and has a lot of rich families!

Finally, don't forget Manchester United's scarred line of defense. The defensive leader, Leo Ferdinand, has almost said goodbye to the season. Vidic, Rafal and others also have different degrees of injuries. It is hard to imagine how far Manchester United can go in the FA Cup, the League and the Champions League by relying on the immature combination of central defender Evans and Smarin.

Of course, it is still the same sentence. If Wenger's team can avoid the embarrassment of repeatedly losing points in weak teams like today, then it will be very promising to reverse Manchester United and win the first league championship in seven years after 2004.

Whether it is Wenger's hard-mouthed or not, Arsenal has not lost the opportunity to compete for the Premier League. Can they laugh to the end? They can't just rely on their opponents to make mistakes. Arsenal also have to show corresponding results!