Who: Manchester United vs Chelsea
What: English Premier League
The place: Outdated Trafford in Manchester, United Kingdom
When: Saturday, August 20, at 5:30pm (16:30 GMT)
comply with: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 2:30pm (13:30 GMT) upfront of our reside textual content commentary stream.
Really helpful Tales
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Manchester United supervisor Ruben Amorim mentioned talks this week with the membership’s co-owner Jim Ratcliffe was not a disaster assembly regardless of a poor begin to the season.
United have taken simply 4 factors from their opening 4 Premier League video games and have been dumped out of the League Cup in embarrassing trend by fourth-tier Grimsby.
Now they face the FIFA Membership World Cup winners, Chelsea, in a stern check in entrance of their very own followers at Outdated Trafford on Saturday.
Amorim has gained simply eight of his 31 Premier League matches since taking cost in November, however the former Sporting Lisbon boss mentioned Ratcliffe reassured him that United stay dedicated to a long-term challenge.
“A brand new contract,” Amorim joked when requested in regards to the topic of his assembly with British billionaire Ratcliffe.
“No, it’s regular issues, simply to indicate the assist and explaining that it’s a lengthy challenge.”
United completed fifteenth within the Premier League final season – their lowest ultimate place within the top-flight since 1973-74 – and blew an opportunity to qualify for the Champions League after they misplaced the Europa League ultimate to Tottenham.
Regardless of the dismal outcomes, Amorim reiterated his perception that United are enhancing and simply should be extra ruthless at each ends of the pitch.
“That is soccer on the membership with possibly extra stress on the earth, however we wish to win,” he added.
“I believe final yr I used to be very essential of the way in which we play. I believe we’re taking part in effectively till the packing containers, defending and attacking, we should be extra aggressive within the packing containers. We should be extra scientific.
“The remaining, I believe we’re enhancing in comparison with final yr, I believe we’re in a greater place. However once more, we have to win, we misplaced towards Arsenal and [Manchester] Metropolis, and right here, dropping, particularly at first after final season, is an issue.”
This weekend’s providing 🫴 pic.twitter.com/Orqb1zOS6I
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 19, 2025
By no means a very good time to face Man Utd for Chelsea
Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca faces the daunting process of ending a 12-year drought at Outdated Trafford, with the Italian insisting on Friday that there’s by no means a very good time to face them regardless of their early-season struggles.
Chelsea haven’t tasted victory at United within the Premier League since Juan Mata’s late winner in Could 2013, whereas the fixture holds the unwelcome distinction of being probably the most drawn encounter in Premier League historical past, with 27 stalemates.
Whereas fifth-placed Chelsea are hoping to increase their unbeaten league begin to 5 video games, United are 14th with one win, however Maresca is cautious of the menace posed by Ruben Amorim’s aspect, who’re smarting from their 3-0 weekend derby defeat.
“It’s all the time tough to play United away at Outdated Trafford. Now just isn’t the fitting second, subsequent yr or final yr, it’s all the time tough,” Maresca instructed reporters upfront of Saturday’s sport.
“A few of the video games they’ve performed this season are usually not the actual outcome. Even the Man Metropolis sport, till 1-0, 2-0, they have been within the sport. At 0-0, they’d a number of possibilities to attain. It will likely be a troublesome sport, little doubt.
“While you battle, there’s a want to win the subsequent sport. Towards Chelsea, at residence, in entrance of their followers, they’re all the explanation why this sport is necessary for them.”
One Chelsea participant who is aware of Outdated Trafford effectively is Alejandro Garnacho, and Maresca mentioned the 40 million kilos ($54m) signing is able to begin after coming off the bench of their earlier two matches.
“Within the final two video games, he was excellent when he got here on. We’re pleased with the way in which he’s adapting to our type and what we wish from the winger. I believe he is able to begin,” Maresca mentioned.
Garnacho additionally has a degree to show after the Argentinian was one in all 5 gamers frozen out of Amorim’s squad earlier than his departure, and Maresca mentioned the participant must hold his feelings in test if United followers give him a troublesome time.
“It’s all the time tough … However you need to study to deal with this stuff,” Maresca added.
Manchester United crew information
Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha are each out there once more for United following accidents.
Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot each stay sidelined with knocks.
Chelsea crew information
Cole Palmer is on the market regardless of the England worldwide holding his groin in Wednesday’s Champions League loss to Bayern Munich. Palmer made his first begin after a groin harm and scored within the 3-1 defeat.
“Cole is OK. Now we have a session now, we flew again yesterday [Thursday]. We have to assess some gamers; we have now some doubts,” Maresca mentioned. “We didn’t have a session since Wednesday’s sport, however we are going to see.”
Mykhaylo Mudryk is suspended for the sport after being charged by the Soccer Affiliation for an alleged doping offence. Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo all miss out by way of accidents.
Predicted Manchester United beginning lineup
Lammens; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Amad; Sesko
Predicted Chelsea beginning lineup
Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Tosin, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro
