Put it in your calendar, this should be a cracking game.
Saturday 11 March, don’t forget it.
It hasn’t even been 24 hours since the draw was made but already Manchester United fans are eagerly anticipating this match as they aim to seek revenge for the 4-0 drubbing they received from Antonio Conte’s side in Stamford Bridge back in October.
The next meeting between the teams makes for a fascinating tie, especially when you consider this United team is much improved from the one which struggled at the beginning of the season.
Since that day, Manchester United have remained unbeaten in the Premier League, a run which has lasted 16 Premier League games.
So you would expect a different type of game to unfold when the sides meet again in southwest London in a few weeks time.
This, in addition to the fact that Jose Mourinho will be adamant that he doesn’t suffer the same humiliating fate again, should ensure a very interesting contest.
Marcus Rashford, who scored the equaliser in United’s 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers which ensured their progress to the last eight of the competition, pointed out that it was the introduction of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic which gave his side the impetus to secure the victory:
“I think that was the kind of missing bits that we needed in the game,” Rashford told MUTV. “We had it throughout the game but not in big spurts, so I think we needed them two to come on.
When quizzed on what his thoughts were regarding the quarter-final draw, the 19-year-old was diplomatic in his response at first.
Though when asked if United owed Chelsea one after the thrashing in October, Rashford had this to say:
“Yeah, definitely. They’ve got one over us.”
It promises to be a cracker.
