After winning the first leg 1-0 thanks to Wayne Rooney’s strike, United can go through with a goalless draw in tonight’s second leg. The home side have only kept three clean sheets in their last nine Champions League clashes at the Theatre of Dreams so that may be tricky.
It’s been said enough times that Chelsea simply has to pick up at some point and this could be it. Carlo Ancelotti basically needs to flick a metaphorical “V” sign at owner Roman Abramovich and play the team he thinks can advance.
Whether that includes £50million-man Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, or even an appearance for Ray Wilkins, it doesn’t matter. Whatever he thinks may help them advance must be done.
What of Torres’ fledgling Chelsea career though.
Andy Carroll scoring last night means that he’s now the only one of the four costliest January signings yet to score. Do the bookies think Torres may bury the hatchet with the goal net and score tonight though?
Betfred’s Mark Pearson was asked whether Torres and Chelsea could turn it over, and replied, “It’s 817 minutes for club and country without a goal for Torres and I think he will start tonight. He’s made a mockery of Vidic before in a Liverpool shirt but a worrying statistic for Chelsea is that only twice in the Champions League era has a team overturned a home first leg defeat. Would not be surprised if Torres scored anytime at 15/8, expect Man United to go through to the semis.”
Meanwhile Charlie McCann over at Victor Chandler is slightly more confident about Chelsea’s chances, and said, “I would have fancied Chelsea strongly to win the tie had the first leg finished 0-0 but United’s lead and away goal has left the London Club with an uphill task. Torres has performed well at Old Trafford before and must start this evening.
“If Chelsea score first it really will be a nervous night at Old Trafford as a second goal for Ancelotti’s side will mean United must score three or they are out. This tie is not as cut and dried as some would have us believe and I think Chelsea will win 2-1 with Torres getting the winner.”
If Torres does score the goal that puts Chelsea through then he will go down in Stamford Bridge legend. Failing to register may mean the fans turn on him. Never a good thing.
