The Frenchman is relishing Saturday’s top-of-the table match where United will entertain the Blues with a one-point advantage, writes Stewart Coggin.
Desailly is backing Barclays Around the World in 90 Minutes as the Premier League sponsors search for the ultimate fan’s experience of English top flight football.
The fan who enters the best Barclays Premier League match-day experience will win a trip for two to see their favourite Barclays Premier League team play live in the UK.
something amazing
“It is amazing the way fans have responded to what Barclays have done,” Desailly told premierleague.com.
“When you go on the website you can see it is worldwide. We have witnesses of the matchday experience from places like New Zealand, Jakarta and Ghana.
“There are some simple videos and some very sophisticated ones where people have been trying hard to win the matchday experience. The part football plays in people’s lives now is something amazing.”
This weekend’s big match is set to produce even more spectacular entries, with the two clubs boasting huge support around the world.
“We are really excited about how people are going to record their experience of the Man United and Chelsea game,” continued Desailly. “Until 9th April, people can give their experiences. We want to see disappointment, we want to see people happy, all the emotions of the matchday experience.”
Chelsea kept in the hunt for the title with a 7-1 win over Aston Villa last weekend, but Desailly believes United hold the advantage, not just at Old Trafford on Saturday, but in the overall title picture.
high level
“When you look at the two teams, United have a small advantage on the consistency they are showing in the midfield. Absolutely amazing,” he said. “Players like (Darren) Fletcher, Nani coming back at a high level and (Antonio) Valencia have made a contribution. Let’s not even talk about (Ryan) Giggs.
“Right the way back to (Edwin) van der Sar, it’s a real team, a group. That’s why I believe that Manchester United today have more energy than Chelsea.”
Desailly has been thrilled by a captivating Barclays Premier League season that has not only featured an exciting title race, but alsi a four-way battle for fourth place.
“The best is to come but I can see that the fans, with the way they react, are really enjoying the league,” he said.
“There are two leagues at the top. We have Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal, then the ones who are trying to catch the Champions League positions, Tottenham, Man City and Liverpool.
“We have three teams at the top, but the other teams are giving great emotion to the supporters. Even at Liverpool, they can see that something is happening.”
badly hit
Chelsea have struggled to defend set-pieces this season, and Desailly attributes their overall travails at the back to a soft centre in midfield.
The World Cup winner acknowledges that the Blues have been badly hit by injuries, with the knee injury picked up by Michael Essien for Ghana in January a particular blow.
“Obviously it looks like the midfield have not really delivered protection to the defence,” he said.
“The defensive block have had some problems this year, that is why they are not four, five or six points ahead because they have lost many points on free-kicks and just generally losing their concentration.
“Previously the midfield was absolutely amazing. Even if they weren’t winning the Barclays Premier League, it was holding the team. The midfield was really playing well.
“Now Joe Cole is not expressing himself as he wanted, (Michael) Ballack has disappeared the last two months, (Jon Obi) Mikel is playing his best, but the team misses Essien. So this is why the defence is suffering.”
spend again
Frank Lampard is the only player to have consistently impressed Desailly this season and he believes changes will need to be made in the summer. Desailly is intrigued about what the club will do in the summer transfer window.
“First of all they need to get rid of four or five guys who are not Chelsea players,” he added. “I think five players have to leave the club. After that it depends on the finances.
“People are talking about (Bayern Munich winger Franck) Ribery, but Ribery is a problem because they have Malouda on the left. I’m not sure if they will spend again.”
Check EPLTable.com to enter via the Barclays competition website. Fans are required to explain in no more than 100 words why they feel their match-day experience is the best in the world.
Fans are also encouraged to support their entries by uploading videos and photos. The competition will run from 8th February 2010 through to 9th April 2010.
“When you look at the two teams, United have a small advantage” – Marcel Desailly
Credits: PremierLeague.com
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