Day of reckoning is looming for United

THERE HAVE been many defining days in Alex Ferguson’s illustrious career at Manchester United.

But it is difficult to think of a match viewed with such apprehension among United fans as tomorrow's Old Trafford encounter with reigning champions Chelsea.

Ferguson, who by coincidence marks 19 years in charge at Old Trafford tomorrow, might have had worse weeks. But it is doubtful.

The 4-1 defeat last Saturday at Middlesbrough was awful. The censoring of Roy Keane's television rant against team-mates whose performances the club captain believed unworthy of the famous red shirt highlighted the frustration and angst inside Old Trafford.

And the subsequent defeat against lowly Lille in the Champions League, with a display which flew in the face of all the swashbuckling traditions of a great club, only proved Keane's words carried substance.

Hardly the perfect preparation then to face arguably the season's most searching examination against the club which has raised the Premiership bar higher than Ferguson, who has eight league titles, could ever have imagined.

It is impossible to escape the fact that United and Chelsea, despite the Londoners' defeat against Real Betis in Europe this week, appear to be heading in totally different directions.

Chelsea, courtesy of Roman Abramovich's billions, are a squad without a weakness. They are a team with clarity in their tactics and formation, even if their pragmatic approach does not always stir the emotions of the neutral.

The stark fact is that defeat would leave United, already struggling to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League, 16 points behind Chelsea in the league, an impossible void with Mourinho's resources.

The omens are not good, yet it was only just over 12 months ago Arsenal headed to United on the back of a 49-game unbeaten streak and, unable to cope with their hosts' physical approach, suffered a beating which shattered their confidence so much it took them months to recover.

Ferguson is hoping for a similar result tomorrow, although he feels Chelsea are a far tougher proposition than Arsene Wenger's men were.

"There are some similarities between the two games but this Chelsea side are made of much sterner stuff," he said. "They are a very powerful team and very committed to defending. It is certainly not going to be easy to beat them but maybe what we need just now is the opportunity to play against a very good team. The start of the game will be so important and we need the crowd behind us. The question is can we usurp Chelsea and make them think for a bit? I know we have the ability to do it and I think everyone else does too."

His Chelsea counterpart, Jose Mourinho is banking that the clash reignites their motivation to recover from the midweek defeat in Seville.

Just as United held a frank team meeting on Thursday so did Chelsea, with Mourinho effectively warning his players they were in danger of slipping into the comfort zone.

"We had a meeting and spoke about the reasons that may have contributed to such a bad performance in Spain," said the Chelsea boss.

"You can never be sure you will get the right result afterwards but I'm sure we will get the right response as we feel a few things contributed to our attitude changing a bit.

"Until now, there has not been enough pressure in the Premiership we are not afraid enough to lose, concede a goal and be behind.

"It is one thing to be in a situation where you know you cannot lose points, and another thing to have a 10 or 12-point lead and feel no adrenalin. A lot of people are better without pressure. But other people are better under pressure.

"At Chelsea, our dressing room is full of top characters, people who are used to playing for big things and big responsibilities, and we need this kind of adrenalin."

Mourinho revealed it was a frank and open meeting at the club's training ground, held after he had carefully considered the reasons behind his team's recent dip in form, as well as consulting his assistants.

"I have a good relationship with the players. Nobody is afraid to express their feelings and their points of view. We have different points of view. I think that is good and we came to good conclusions," he added.

"To lose is not a drama. We can lose matches. Especially we can lose matches in a group and still be first or even qualify in second place, but I was not happy with the defeat or the performance."