While Chelsea and Manchester United could hardly be enjoying more
different Premier League fortunes this season, it bears noting that an
FA Cup quarterfinal is the ultimate leveller and that this glamour
clash’s outcome is anything but a foregone conclusion.Ahead of the 2016/17 season, few could have predicted the enormous 16-point difference between likely Premier League champions, Chelsea, and sixth-placed Manchester United with 11 matches remaining.
Be that as it may, former Blues manager José Mourinho has already seen his Red Devils to their first cup victory under his custodianship having beaten Southampton 3-2 in the EFL League Cup final.
This relatively minor domestic success is unlikely to affect the combative Portuguese manager’s desire for further success.
However, he would be desperate to compensate for his side’s dire league performance with two cup victories this season.
The last time Antonio Conte hosted United, his side put an astonishing four unanswered goals past their opponents.