Chelsea vs United: Team news, starting XIs for FA Cup quarter final clash

The stage is set for the titans to lock horns at the Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Monday night. It cannot get any bigger than this – Chelsea vs Manchester United! Jose Mourinho returns to his former den with a weakened United side as he will have to field an XI without four of his strikers – Wayne Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

Rooney got himself injured on the training ground. Martial is also injured. Rashford has fallen ill ahead of this game and Ibrahimovic is suspended following his antics during the Bournemouth game.

Chelsea have been extremely dangerous and on top of their game. It will be interesting to see what strategy Mourinho resorts to against the Blues on Monday. On the other hand, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has a fully fit squad at his disposal.

Also beating this Chelsea side, who are in red-hot form, at their own backyard will be an uphill task for the Red Devils. Mourinho cannot really afford to field a tired XI as they might just be easily squashed by Conte’s men, who are 10 points clear at the top of the table in the Premier League and are favourites to win the competition.

Chelsea have registered 12 straight home wins at Stamford Bridge in all competitions and they will look to add one more to that incredible tally. However, United will not let this opportunity go that easily as they are the defending champions of the FA Cup.

Mourinho is likely to play the in-form Henrikh Mkhitaryan as a forward and Paul Pogba as the no.9. That would mean Jese Lingard and Juan Mata will be on the wings and Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera will monitor the midfield. Eric Bailly is also likely to return to the playing XI on Monday.

Expected playing XI’s:

Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso, Pedro, Costa, Hazard.

Manchester United: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Bailly, Darmian, Carrick, Herrera, Mata, Pogba, Lingard, Mkhitaryan.

• Chelsea vs Manchester United
• FA Cup quarter final