Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be managing his 13th match in charge at Manchester United on Monday night, but this will be his first one where he’s coming off a loss. Solskjaer will be leading United into Stamford Bridge to take on FA Cup holders Chelsea in a fifth round clash that serves as a rematch of last year’s final.
The Norwegian harkened back not to that match, but 20 years ago when the baby faced assassin, then a player with United, was a part of the very historical Sir Alex Ferguson led side that won at Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinal; on their way to really big things.
“In ’99 we apparently beat them at Stamford Bridge to get to the final,” said Solskjaer to Sky Sports, before discussing his scouting trip across town to Manchester City last Sunday, where the Citizens crushed Chelsea 6-0.
“We beat Arsenal, we beat Liverpool as well so we did it the hard way then and we will have to do it the hard way this year. Looking forward to it.”
“I went to see them against City and City were clinical of course, but they have got some fantastic players and so do Chelsea, they could have easily scored two or three in the first half as well.”
Let’s take a look at who Solskjaer might start in his first team at Chelsea on Monday night. He’ll have a major challenge in reforming his attack, which is now ravaged by injury.
The Bank MUFC Starting XI Prediction at Chelsea (4-3-3)
Attack: Alexis Sanchez, Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku
Midfielders: Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera
Defenders: Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones, Ashley Young
Goalkeeper: David de Gea
Manchester United at Chelsea FC FA Cup 5th Round FYIs
Kickoff: Monday, February 18, 7:30 PM local, Stamford Bridge
FA Cup Odds via Betway: Chelsea 1/1, Draw 13/5, Manchester United 13/5
Odds to win FA Cup via Betway: United 13/2, Chelsea 6/1
Injury Report for both sides: go to this link
Starting XI Predictions: Chelsea Manchester United
Prediction: Chelsea 1, United 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.