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United could take advantage of Chelsea collapse

By David Cambridge

Jul 21, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; Manchester United starting eleven before the game against the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; Manchester United starting eleven before the game against the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Red Devils are now their biggest rivals.

A week ago, Conte’s Chelsea were a well-oiled machine, marching inexorably to their second Premier League title in three years – and then it emerged that Diego Costa’s head may have been turned by a big money offer from China.

The Blues are far from a one man team – their winning form this season is as much down to the tactical brilliance of their coach as it is the individual performances of big name players – but the stats speak for themselves. Costa has found the net 14 times from 19 games this season, and his under-study, £33M man Batshuayi, is a long way from being ready to step into his shoes.

They ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at the King Power Stadium at the weekend, and tight-lipped Conte refused to let Costa steal the headlines as he fielded questions about his missing striker in his post-match media duties. If a mid-season title collapse is imminent, then he and his players are hiding it well, but this is a timely shot in the arm for the chasing pack.

Currently it’s Tottenham, who have made a scintillating start to 2017, that are closest to Chelsea in terms of points. They’re seven adrift of the league leaders, having blown away West Brom courtesy of a Harry Kane hat-trick. Arsenal, City and Liverpool also sit above the Red Devils at the moment, but not by much, and their recent results (and performances) are nowhere near as impressive.

Mourinho and United are way back in 6th, but in the eyes of many they are still to truly hit top form, the likes of Mkhitaryan and Martial having – either through lack of form or opportunity – yet to deliver the type of performances of which they’re capable. With Costa (potentially) out of the reckoning, they also have the league’s in-form striker in the shape of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Their coach knows a thing or two about winning titles, and while his sides are usually the early season pace-setters, chasing a faltering side – one that, thanks to their flawless first half of the season, are under pressure to see it out – is the type of challenge Mourinho will relish.

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The current point differential is such that United can’t afford to drop any needless points during the second half of the season. In other words, those drab draws they settled for back when Jose was getting his feet under the table at Old Trafford need to stop. Do that, and they could capitalise if Chelsea do indeed stumble at the finish line.

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