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Old 11-03-2017, 06:30 PM   #9
Andi Istiabudi
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Default Re: [FA] Chelsea vs Manchester United

Musim 1998/1999 memang musim yang tidak terlupakan..



YORKE AND IRWIN SEE PARALLELS WITH 1999

On 10 March 1999, Manchester United travelled to Stamford Bridge for an FA Cup quarter-final replay against Chelsea. As is the case in 2017, the Reds were considered slight underdogs going into the game, largely because of a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford that had forced the replay.

Many pundits fancied the Blues, who won the trophy two years earlier and would lift it again in the following season, to complete the job after their performance in Manchester. After all, the fixture congestion was starting to impact Alex Ferguson's team as they chased glory on three fronts.

In the middle of a European tie, following the 2-0 success over Inter Milan in the Champions League, some wondered if that would be deemed a priority over the FA Cup but United produced a scintillating counter-attacking display with a Dwight Yorke double accounting for the Londoners.

The parallels between the two games are easy to spot as goal-hero Yorke pointed out to ManUtd.com. "Absolutely, you can look at all the turning points in that Treble-winning year and say this was one of the moments," he recalled. "We know games against Chelsea are always going to be very competitive but we know United are on an unbeaten run at the moment and the confidence is high.

"Chelsea are top of the league right now and are also on a high, so the game will be close but I think United can have the slight advantage, even though I can't see too much between these two teams at the moment. It's a very important game for both clubs.

"We know if we can get past Chelsea in this round, we will have one foot in the door to the final again. I'm sure United are concentrating on finishing as high as possible in the league but will put that on hold for the moment. As defending champions, it would be amazing to win the FA Cup again."

Yorke's former team-mate Denis Irwin remembers the 1999 clash vividly, even if the baby-cradling celebration for David Beckham's first son, the now-18-year-old Brooklyn, may leave some fans feeling their age.

"We went down to Chelsea for the replay, which wouldn’t have helped us because of the amount of games we had. But we played very, very well and Yorkie popped up and scored twice.

"Chelsea were a very good side at the time – they were just coming to the fore – and we were involved with them and Arsenal in the race to win the Premier League. So it was a tough old game for us but we came through it in the end.

"It’s very much a similar scenario now because United are involved in a lot of trophy hunting again and I’m glad to say we've already got one under the belt.

"Monday's match is a tough test, we know that, as we’ve been down there once already this season and got turned over. So we’ve got a bit to prove. But it’s a quarter-final of the FA Cup and whoever plays well on the day, will win it."

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