Chelsea v Manchester United FA Cup, 19th May 5.15pm
Will it be Chelsea or Manchester United getting their hands on a piece of silverware this season in the FA Cup final at Wembley on the weekend? There has been no love lost between the two managers this season and there is plenty of speculation as to whether or not this will be Antonio Conte’s last game in charge of the Blues. Manchester United did pretty well against the other top six rivals in the Premier League this season, so can they take down the disjointed Chelsea to finish the season on a high?
Chelsea v Manchester United FA Cup Betting Odds*
Manchester United 8/5, Chelsea 19/20, Draw 11/5* (Betting Odds taken at 6:58 p.m. on May 15th, 2018)
Chelsea v Manchester United FA Cup Betting Tips
Chelsea looked as if they had played their way into a serious challenge for a top four finish in the Premier League this season. However, after their four-match winning streak, it all fell apart for them in their last two games. A home draw against Huddersfield was followed up by their worst performance of the season in suffering a three-nil loss at Newcastle on the final day of the season. Chelsea have just looked off-colour for pretty much the entirety of the season only producing in small patches here and there. It is glaringly obvious that they are missing a big goal scoring threat up front, but they haven’t been very convincing in defence either. Will their current lack of punch going forward hinder their chances of trying to break down Manchester United’s defence? Manchester United generally play a bit conservative and so will Chelsea find the space to open them up? Under 2.5 goals at bet365 is at 8/15 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 6:58 p.m. on May 15th, 2018). Chelsea certainly did not look confident in their own ability at Newcastle on the weekend.
Defensively they have just looked an absolute shambles at times this season a far cry from their powerful season last term. However, they do have three clean sheets in their last five games but in their final five games of the season, they only managed to score more than one goal in a game on one occasion. In the bet365 correct score market, the shortest priced option available is the 1-1 draw at 5 to 1 odds but a Manchester United 1-0 option is at 11 to 2 and pretty appealing for this FA Cup Final. Chelsea were very nearly knocked out in the third round of the FA Cup as they needed a penalty shoot-out at home against Championship Norwich to make it through. They did then have easy home wins over Newcastle and then Hull and in the quarter-finals, they needed extra time to move past Leicester at the King Power Stadium. Chelsea took a 2-0 win at Wembley over Southampton in the semi finals but didn’t have things all their own way in that game.
With a second-place finish in the Premier League and a place in the FA Cup final, it has been a pretty decent season from Manchester United even though their performances have been less than spectacular. But they can finish with a bang here and they are in decent form having lost only one of the last 14 matches across all competitions. The Red Devils won 10 of those games so their form is strong. They did have to get through the end of the season without their top goalscorer, Romelu Lukaku but the Red Devils are hoping that he will be fit to start at Wembley. Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea won the Golden Gloves in the Premier League this season setting a new record for clean sheets. He really is a match winner and a game changer for United and really holds up what is a pretty average looking defence in front of him. Manchester United to win to nil at bet365 is 3/1 odds.
Manchester United have not really been troubled in the FA Cup this season as they started out with a comfortable home victory over Championship side Derby. They then went out on the road to bank wins at Yeovil and then Huddersfield before beating Brighton back at Old Trafford in the quarter finals. United did not ship a single goal on their way to reaching the semi-finals. They had to go up against Spurs in the semi finals and United were underdogs for that game with Spurs in form and having played all of their home games at Wembley this season. But it was United who did come out on top, doing a great job of keeping Spurs quiet and they took a 2-1 victory for themselves. That continued the streak of the Red Devils scoring at least two goals in each and every one of their FA Cup matches this season. Even though they have been heavily criticised this season they do seem to be organised they generally stick to a conservative game plan as is generally the way with Jose Mourinho. It is the result that matters the most not the performance.
Chelsea v Manchester United head to head
From the two Premier League meetings between Chelsea and Manchester United this season they both took a home victory and both of those victories were by a one goal margin only. They were paired up in the FA Cup last season with Chelsea taking a home win over the Red Devils. Chelsea have won three of the last five meetings with Manchester United in all competitions and each of those victories they won with a clean sheet as well. From the previous fourteen FA Cup matches that these two have contested it is Manchester United who are 8-4 ahead with the two drawn matches.
Who will win – Chelsea v Manchester United FA Cup Predictions
Chelsea looked really short on confidence and quality in their defeat at Newcastle on the weekend. They can’t seem to get much going inside the opposition penalty box and Manchester United should be able to hold them at bay. The Red Devils are the stronger and more organised of the two sides and can take the victory to nil.
