"I am where I want to be. I wouldn't change it for anything…. I am the Happy One."
Beaming, relieved, content and raring to go, Jose Mourinho, in June 2013, dismissed talk that he was upset that he could not succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. He took up the mantle of a Chelsea squad that yearned for his return. It was perfect. The club needed the coach to steady the ship after a rollercoaster season and he needed a place where he was loved―his final season at Real Madrid had made him Spain’s public enemy number one.
And, yet, three years on, Chelsea take on Manchester United at the Stamford Bridge in a Super Sunday English Premier League fixture with Jose Mourinho in the opposition dugout. Arguably one of the greatest masterminds of the modern game, the United boss is set to return to the ground he―not once, but in two spells―called “home”. He was fired from Chelsea ten months ago for a run of horrifying results and a broken dressing room.
That events in his second stint at London could transpire in such spectacular fashion was not something new to either Chelsea or Mourinho. Both parties have witnessed sea changes in the last decade. But since taking on a new task, Mourinho will be hoping for more stability at Manchester than his two successful, yet tragic, spells at the Bridge.
This time around, Chelsea are coached by another managerial genius in the form of the Italian Antonio Conte. Both managers in the first season of their appointment are looking to drag their teams back into the title race after lacklustre campaigns last season. Though both sides boast a galaxy of stars on the field, the focus will firmly be on the two commanders marshalling their squads from the dugouts.
Mourinho will be hoping for more stability at Manchester than his two successful, yet tragic, spells at the Bridge | AFP
When Jose's United take on his former side, he will be aware that the odds are heavily stacked against his team. No team, in the Premier League era, has been more successful against the mighty Red Devils than Chelsea has. Interestingly though, out of Chelsea's 16 league wins against United, five came with Mourinho at the helm―the most by any Chelsea manager. Chelsea have had the upper hand in recent outings, with United unable to beat them in their last eight league clashes.
But after the whistle goes, statistics won't mean a thing. Things could be different, this time, with United holding their biggest trump card–Mourinho himself―that once belonged to the Blues. The Portuguese has stamped his mark on his new club, clearly visible in the way his side forced a rampaging Liverpool to settle for a drab goalless draw. Had it not been for the solid defensive show and a string of outstanding saves from keeper David de Gea, it would have been Liverpool's night. Chelsea's Conte, too, is a coach known for his sturdy defences, but the club are currently in the gestation period of his philosophical makeover.
As the two teams go head-to-head once again, both will be looking to make up for the early season slip ups―eight games into the campaign, Chelsea sit fifth on the table with United two rungs below. If Chelsea win, they have a chance to move into the top four, while a Manchester win will push the team past the Blues.
Chelsea have the advantage of playing at home and will emerge the fresher of the two as United have had a busier week playing Liverpool on Monday and Fenerbahce, in the Europa League, on Thursday. On the other hand, Chelsea have been hit with injuries and absentees and will be without the services of Kurt Zouma, B. Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas, while Willian and Oscar are doubtful. Captain John Terry is likely to make his return. Manchester United winger Henrikh Mkhitaryan is fit and may be available, while Chris Smalling hobbled off with a muscle injury during the Fenerbahce game and could miss out.
In an age where Premier League mangers are bigger stars than their players, the fixture will be a clash of eccentric, expressive tacticians who wear their hearts on their sleeves. The two have varying philosophies but are quintessentially defensive-minded coaches. And both have a lot to prove to firmly win the hearts of the fans.
As Stamford Bridge prepares itself for another high-voltage clash between the English giants, all eyes will be on one man, who was responsible for making the fixture one of the biggest clashes in the last decade. There has never been a manager more loved by the Stamford Bridge faithful. But this time, for a change, he'll be looking to ensure that the hosts are left “Red”-faced.
(The match will kick off at 8:30pm IST on Sunday)
