Fletcher: Big games bring out our best
The Reds travel to West London as underdogs following a disappointing start to the New Year, having lost three straight matches before securing a 2-0 win over Swansea City at Old Trafford last Saturday evening.
In contrast, Chelsea have claimed 25 points from 30 in their last ten matches and, more worryingly from a United perspective, the Blues have yet to lose a league game at Stamford Bridge under Jose Mourinho in either his first or current second spell as their manager.
Having navigated difficult periods in the past, Fletcher is drawing on experience and insists his team-mates are not daunted by Sunday’s match.
“Not at all, we are expected to win every game and it doesn’t matter if it is Swansea at home or Chelsea away, it is viewed as a disaster if we don’t win.
“We have been in these situations before,” said Fletcher “and sometimes in bigger games you really come together and it brings out your best performances as you are really focused and intent on proving people wrong.
“We will treat it like we do with every other game. We will go to win. We know it is a great challenge going to Chelsea but we can take some confidence from the Swansea game and we are fully confident of going down there and getting more of the same.”
Manager David Moyes has been the subject of much criticism for United’s slow start but striker Robin van Persie has given his backing to the Scot.
Moyes has guided the Premier League champions to the last 16 of the Champions League and the League Cup semi-finals. But they lie seventh in the league and are out of the FA Cup, defeated by Swansea.
“Moyes needs time, he’s new,” said Van Persie yesterday. “The manager is our leading man and he will change things around.”
Van Persie, who has been sidelined for a month with a thigh problem, is confident United’s fortunes will improve “sooner rather than later”.
“We lost too many points this year, but we are doing everything we can to change that,” said the 30-year-old Dutchman.
Van Persie, a £24m signing from Arsenal in August 2012, was a key figure for United last season, scoring 30 goals in all competitions as they claimed a 13th Premier League title.
It was the last of 38 trophies for Alex Ferguson as United manager before stepping down at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard says he has never felt a stronger bond with his fellow goalkeepers than the one he is currently experiencing at Manchester United.
The Dane’s main role during the current campaign has been as understudy to David De Gea but he insists relations between the two stoppers are good.
“I really enjoy working with David, he’s a great guy,” said Lindegaard. “There has always been a special bond between goalkeepers but I must say I think what we have here is stronger than anything I’ve seen elsewhere.”
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