Solid Silvestre going for gold
As usual this season, their hopes probably rest on a rock-solid defence which has Mikael Silvestre at its heart.
It was not that long ago that Silvestre was seen as a weak link in United's rearguard, speedy and strong for sure, but prone to alarming concentration lapses and too easily drawn out of position.
It is four years since Silvestre swapped life in Serie A with Inter Milan for cool and breezy Manchester. In that time, the Frenchman has learned plenty.
Now there is only assurance and confidence. One of the most improved players in the Premiership, Silvestre has proved so accomplished at the back that Alex Ferguson informed him at the end of last season that he was now regarded as his first choice centre-half.
"I think I have improved every year," revealed the 26-year-old. "At the start of the season I set myself goals, areas to work on. Then, after every game, I analyse myself so I know what I have done well and what I need to work on.
"I don't study videos, I already know what mistakes I have made, so I know where I can improve. You play so many games, there is always something to work on.
"In previous seasons I have wanted to play central defence because I believe my qualities are better suited.
"Playing at left-back was hard physically you have to be clever at the back and good going forward. Now I prefer to concentrate on being good at the back and helping to concede fewer goals."
If that is the measurement by which Silvestre is now judged, he can be regarded an unqualified success.
The clean sheet gained against Panathinaikos in Athens on Wednesday was United's 11th in 19 competitive outings, during which they have conceded just 12 goals. In a season where their normally free-flowing style has largely been absent, it is the bedrock upon which their current title tilt has been based.
Silvestre is reluctant to outline the precise reasons for his own improvement, except to argue that much of it is in his mind.
"For a long time I was preoccupied with my concentration during games," he said. "If you are a striker and you lose concentration, you give away possession but at the back of your mind you know you'll get another chance.
"When you play at the back any loss of concentration even for a few seconds can be a problem. Any mistake can be punished.
"I think it was a problem I had but it's something I have improved on. I didn't find a solution, it's just improved with time and experience."
Apart from the defeats to Stuttgart and Fulham, Silvestre feels the United rearguard have met most of the challenges quite well this season.
He has certainly impressed, despite playing through a niggling knee ligament injury that would not have been helped by Joel Epalle's crunching late tackle on Wednesday.
Ferguson is confident Silvestre will overcome his latest knock and be ready to face Chelsea. And there is no doubting the player's desire to make it too, given close friends and international colleagues William Gallas and Marcel Desailly are in the opposition.
"They don't want to admit that they must win the league," he said of the big-spending Londoners.
"It's almost too much pressure for them. They don't want to see the reality that when you spend so much money, you have to win."
Even Ferguson has been forced to revise his long-standing belief that the Premiership title cannot be bought.
"In normal circumstances I wouldn't have said you could buy the title but Chelsea are defying that by their own results," said Ferguson.
"Just because you have the chequebook to buy anyone you want, it doesn't make it the easiest job in the world. You have to fit new players in and take out good ones to accommodate them.
"The bonus for them was that they got a good start to the season and that gave everyone confidence. It has given them the belief they are going in the right direction and I'm sure they will be up near the top at the end of this season.
"Neither ourselves, Chelsea nor Arsenal are making huge mistakes. We are all looking very strong and that means when we play each other the games are vital. That is what may decide the league this season."
It is rare for Ferguson to place such importance on a fixture so early in the campaign, although his selection for the Champions League win over Panathinaikos in midweek gave a clear indication of his thoughts.
Ruud van Nistelrooy and the Neville brothers, Gary and Phil, were all unused substitutes in Athens, while skipper Roy Keane was not even required to make the trip in an effort to ensure he was over his minor hamstring strain.
"Claudio has done a great job at Chelsea, particularly this season when he has managed to change his team round so well," he said.
"I have been in that situation myself and sometimes you wonder whether you are doing the right thing for the right reasons.
"At one stage I was choosing between Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in the same way Claudio has Crespo, Mutu, Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen.
"You are continually leaving two of them out, so you have to deal with how they feel and be careful how you approach the situation and what you say."
Ranieri sends out his Chelsea team still insisting there is still a gap between the two clubs. "Manchester are the champions and we are happy to play against them to compare how big the gap is," said Ranieri.
"I think the gap has closed but I am sure there is still a gap because they have been the champions since a long time ago. They are used to playing at the highest level in England and in Europe.
A back strain denies Juan Sebastian Veron the chance of facing his former club for the first time since his £15million move from Old Trafford, and Ranieri confirmed former West Ham star Joe Cole is likely to continue in his place after deputising for the Champions League 0-0 home draw with Sparta Prague on Wednesday night.
Although Chelsea are a point ahead of United in the Premiership and neck and neck with them in Europe, Ranieri said: "In the last seven or eight years they have achieved a minimum of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals and this year is the best start in the last seven for them.
"Chelsea have in the last 10 years appeared in the Champions League quarter-finals just once, against Barcelona, but United are used to appearing there regularly."
Ranieri was not surprised that United have taken the loss of Veron and David Beckham, to Real Madrid, in their stride.
"You see this all the time in football. They have changed some fantastic players and they have had some injuries but they are still fantastic. Juventus sold some good players over the years but they still kept winning," said the Italian.
"We have a lot of respect for them but I am sure we will play a good match on Sunday. But at this moment you can't compare Manchester United and Chelsea.
"Chelsea are doing well now, this season, but Manchester United have been used to doing it for years. The gap isn't closed yet but we are working hard to close it."
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