The reigning champions were also given a difficult set of fixtures at the start of the season, including trips to Anfield and the Etihad Stadium in September, to increase the pressure on Moyes.
The Blues have won both of their first two games and would go six points clear of United if they win on Monday. "There is lots I've been looking forward to: taking the team on tour, leading them at Wembley," Moyes said. "But to do it [lead the team out] at Old Trafford for the first game against Chelsea is a thrill, it really is." Moyes, who left Everton for United in the summer, oversaw an emphatic 4-1 victory over Swansea in his opening game in charge, while Mourinho has started his second stint at Stamford Bridge with home wins over Hull City and Aston Villa.
The match will represent David Moyes’ competitive debut at the Theatre of Dreams, while Jose Mourinho will be returning to this ground for a Premier contest for the first time since November 2006, when his side earned a 1-1 draw.
Manchester United vs. Chelsea
On Sunday, Chelsea announced via their official website that they had completed the £30 million acquisition of Brazilian playmaker Willian from Shakhtar Donetsk—a signing that saw Mourinho’s summer transfer spending surpass £57 million.Rumour has it that Chelsea will make a third offer for Rooney after this game is out of the way. The fact is that David Moyes has steadfastly maintained the position that Rooney will not be sold. And who will be Mourinho's choice for Chelsea up front? Fernando Torres sat out their league game against Aston Villa last Wednesday, but he's not started either of their two matches against Manchester United at Old Trafford since perpetrating the most glaring of misses in front of the Stretford End when Andre Villas Boas' Chelsea were beaten 3-1 almost two years ago.
So on the tenth day of this new Premier League season comes the first big summit meeting - the first coming together of two of last season's top four. And of course the firsts also keep coming for Manchester United's new manager David Moyes - this is his bow with his new club at Old Trafford in the league. And as he himself pointed out, he was not done any favours when the fixture computer served up Jose Mourinho's new Chelsea as his team's opponents.
One benefit of this kind of team being in existence was in the brief periods when two such beasts overlapped, and genuinely great games resulted. This era was at it's zenith during the age of great United-Arsenal clashes, so recent yet seeming so far away that teams containing Robert Pires can still get talked about with an "ah, those were the days son, when men were men" wistfulness.
Manchester United and Chelsea are a long way from being as invulnerable as either of those two sides, but they may produce a sort of bastardised version of their best performances. Unless Robin van Persie breaks his leg, this match is not a decisive encounter, or even an important clash or anything from which there is particularly much to be learned. Both teams will have severe nerves, but also very little to lose. A frantic game is a clear possibility, and ending the game with 22 players on the pitch seems unlikely.
ESPN has reported Chelsea are preparing a third bid for the disgruntled England forward—likely to be in the £40 million range. And given Willian’s arrival, pending an immigration hearing, Mourinho could possibly include Juan Mata in a swap deal for the 27-year-old in order to twist United’s arm.
Manchester United injuries: Young, Rafael, Hernandez, Nani, Fletcher
Chelsea injuries: Luiz
Wayne Rooney can save his Manchester United career with a huge performance in Monday night’s clash with Chelsea.
As reported by Mark Ogden of The Telegraph, the new boss confirmed Rooney is in his plans for the early season showdown. United suffered a 1-0 loss to the Blues in the corresponding fixture last campaign and need to grab three points if they are to maintain pace with Jose Mourinho’s crammed squad.
Interestingly, it was the last Premier League visit of Chelsea that saw speculation surrounding Rooney's future intensify. Sir Alex Ferguson benched him for the game, much like the Champions League battle with Real Madrid, adding fuel to a fire that would quickly grow out of control.
Date: 8:00 p.m. BST; 3:00 p.m. ET 26 August 2013
Venue:Old Trafford, Manchester
Referee: Martin Atkinson
