Date: 28 October 2012
Fixture: Chelsea vs Manchester United
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Matchday 9 – Premier League
The tunnel at Stamford Bridge was tight, humming with tension.
Blue shirts bounced in place. Terry. Cole. Ivanović. Across the way, Rooney stood arms crossed, eyes locked ahead. Behind him, Alex adjusted his boots, heart steady.
Sir Alex had named a bold starting XI.
Manchester United XI: De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Carrick, Cleverley; Valencia, Rooney, Marshall; Van Persie.
Chelsea XI: Čech; Ivanović, Cahill, David Luiz, Cole; Mikel, Ramires; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres.
A war of styles. A collision of intent.
24 Hours Earlier — Cobham Training Ground
Rain pattered softly against the windows of the tactical room at Cobham. Inside, Roberto Di Matteo stood by a projection screen, arms folded, voice low and deliberate.
On the screen: clips of Manchester United's recent matches. One froze on a close-up of Alexander Marshall, eyes up, about to deliver a cross.
"Don't let his age fool you," Di Matteo said. "He's quick, clever, and brave. He's not playing like a boy."
The players sat in quiet focus. Ivanović, Cahill, Ashley Cole, and David Luiz lined the front row. A replay of Marshall's assist to Van Persie against Braga rolled on screen — sharp footwork, pinpoint delivery.
"He likes to cut in from the right," Di Matteo continued. "He doesn't overcomplicate — he commits. If he gets into a rhythm, he'll hurt us."
Ashley Cole raised an eyebrow. "Want me to double up if he drifts left?"
"Don't give him room to switch sides," Di Matteo nodded. "And Ivanović — stay tight. No backing off. If you let him face you up, we lose that duel."
David Luiz leaned back in his chair, spinning a pen. "And Rooney?"
Di Matteo's eyes narrowed slightly. "Rooney is the heartbeat. Van Persie is the finisher. But the one they'll look for in transition… is Marshall. He's the bridge."
A pause.
"Shut that bridge down, and the rest doesn't flow."
In the back, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard exchanged glances. The message was clear: respect the kid — but don't fear him.
"We play our game," Di Matteo said finally. "But stay alert. If you switch off once, this lot will punish you."
Carrington – Final Training Session Before Chelsea
Rain hissed on the pitch as United's final drills wrapped up. The mood was intense but calm — the kind of focus only a clash with Chelsea could bring.
Players filtered into the tactics room, boots muddy, hair damp, expressions serious. Sir Alex Ferguson stood at the front, a remote in one hand, the other resting on a stack of paper — Chelsea's recent match reports.
The projector flicked to life.
Chelsea 4-2 Reading. Chelsea 2-2 Juventus. Chelsea 1-0 Stoke.
The highlight reel played in silence.
"Strong team," Sir Alex began. "But far from perfect."
He pointed to the screen. A pause on David Luiz slipping during a defensive transition. Then another clip — Ivanović backing off too much, giving space.
"They'll come at us quick. Hazard between the lines, Mata floating. But they don't track runners. They don't like being turned."
He clicked forward. Footage of Chelsea conceding on counters. Quick transitions. Sharp inside runs. Then, finally — a freeze-frame of Alex cutting inside against Braga.
"They'll mark Rooney. They'll double Van Persie. That means space for someone else."
He turned to face the room. His gaze lingered on Alex.
"You don't need to be the best player on the pitch," Sir Alex said, his voice low. "You need to be the smartest. Find the moment. Make it count."
Alex nodded, trying not to overthink. His heart raced anyway.
Mike Phelan spoke up. "They've only dropped points once. They think they're untouchable. Let's remind them who owns Old Trafford."
Rooney smirked. "Even if it's at the Bridge."
Light chuckles echoed, but the tension was still there — beneath the surface, like thunder before the strike.
Sir Alex looked over the squad one more time. "Tomorrow," he said, "we don't just play football. We make a statement."
Kickoff – Stamford Bridge roaring. Blue and red banners ripple across the stadium.
1st Minute
Juan Mata threaded a ball between Evra and Evans, sending Fernando Torres into space.He took a touch, then fired low — but De Gea got down quick to smother it.
"Torres testing United early. That's a warning sign.""United caught cold. Sloppy defending from the left."
A heavy touch from Ivanović drew immediate pressure. Van Persie closed him down like a heat-seeking missile, forcing a rushed back-pass toward Petr Čech. It came awkwardly — bobbling across the wet grass.
Čech lunged to meet it, gloves outstretched —THWACK! The ball ricocheted off his shin…Straight into the charging Van Persie, who instinctively turned and fired.
The shot slammed off Čech's glove, bounced off David Luiz ——and in.
GOAL.
A stunned hush fell over Stamford Bridge, immediately followed by furious jeers.Hands flew up in disbelief. One fan hurled a blue scarf toward the advertising boards.
"Disaster for Chelsea! Own goal — and Stamford Bridge is stunned!""Van Persie made that happen. Luiz just couldn't adjust. That's schoolboy panic at the back."
David Luiz turned slowly, arms spread in frustration — not at anyone else, but himself.Čech pounded the turf in rage. Ivanović swore under his breath.
On the sideline, Roberto Di Matteo turned away, one hand dragging across his face.He barked toward his backline, voice sharp and clear even in the noise."Keep it simple! Don't play games back there!"
Meanwhile, Van Persie jogged back toward the centre circle, a smirk tugging at his mouth.
10th Minute Oscar curled in a beauty from the left. Hazard rose between Smalling and Evra — header snapped toward goal...Just wide.
"Hazard inches away from the equaliser!""De Gea was flat-footed. That would've been 1–1."
Manchester United were humming.
Carrick floated into space just inside Chelsea's half, collected a simple square ball from Cleverley, and turned. No pressure. Time to pick.
A subtle shoulder drop sent Mikel the wrong way.Carrick drove forward and threaded a slicing pass into the channel — Rooney peeled wide, dragging Cahill with him.
"This is slick from United — patient, deliberate… watch Rooney here…"
Rooney let the ball run before zipping it across the face of goal.
There was Van Persie.
He ghosted in between Luiz and Cole with veteran timing. One touch with his right, then
SMASH.
A left-footed rocket off the underside of the bar.
2–0.
"Oh my word! Van Persie — ruthless!""A blur of red — United are cutting Chelsea apart! That's top-class movement and finish."
The away end erupted. Red flares. Limbs. Absolute chaos.
Sir Alex clenched his fists and gave a single fist-pump.
On the other side, Roberto Di Matteo stood frozen, arms folded tightly. His assistants looked worried. He snapped toward his bench.
"Get compact! No more space between the lines!"
David Luiz looked to the sky, visibly rattled — two goals down in twelve minutes, and he was at the heart of both.
Cahill shouted to organize the back four. "Talk! TALK!"
In midfield, Mata yelled toward Torres "We need the press — no more waiting!"
But United were already back in shape, business-like.Van Persie jogged back with purpose, high-fiving Carrick and clapping toward Rooney.
Alex, on the opposite flank, was locked in. Eyes sharp.He turned to Cleverley
"They're panicking. Let's finish it."
17th Minute Hazard danced through midfield and slid it to Mata, who cut inside and bent a curling effort…Off the crossbar!Gasps all around Stamford Bridge.
Sir Alex shouted "Wake up, lads! Don't get lazy!"
25th Minute Alex flicked past Ashley Cole and surged forward, then cut it back for Rooney at the top of the box.Rooney turned and curled it with his left — just past the post.
"That was nearly game over. Rooney so close."
34th Minute
A long ball from Oscar dropped toward Torres, who flicked it past Evans and spun. Evans misjudged the bounce — late contact, definite foul. Right on the edge of the box.
"Dangerous, dangerous place to give away a free kick…"
"Evans got his timing wrong. He's lucky it's not a card."
The Stamford Bridge crowd surged to its feet. Mata picked up the ball with quiet confidence, brushing aside Ramires and Luiz, who had also hovered.
He placed it. Adjusted his socks. Took three short steps back.
De Gea built the wall. Four men — Rooney, Carrick, Van Persie, and Evra — stood firm. But the angle was perfect for a left-footer.
Whistle.
Mata approached with that signature glide — and whipped it with glorious precision over the wall.
The ball arced like a painter's stroke — dipping, curling — and kissed the inside of the post before crashing into the net.
"Oh that's class! World-class!"
"It's game on at Stamford Bridge! That's a free-kick masterclass from Juan Mata!"
Stamford Bridge exploded — blue flags, chants, smoke from a flare at the far end.
Mata slid to his knees in front of the West Stand, arms stretched, grinning wide as teammates swarmed him.
Hazard hugged him from behind, shouting in his ear."Pure magic, Juan!"
Roberto Di Matteo pumped his fist on the touchline, roaring to his bench:"they're nervous, you can see it!"
David Luiz clapped his hands, nodding. "Let's go, let's go!"
Sir Alex remained still. A quiet nod. No panic. But the fire in his eyes returned.
2–1. Game alive.
Chelsea surged again.
United's shape had started to waver — fatigue creeping in, passes looser, reactions slower.
Carrick's clearance from a tight midfield press was mishit — a weak loft up the middle.Ramires pounced. He took it down on his chest and immediately turned upfield.
"That's sloppy from United — and now they're exposed!"
Ramires darted past Cleverley with a burst of pace, the United backline retreating.
Evans stepped up too late — Oscar was already in motion on the right channel.
A perfect slide pass. Oscar through. One-on-one.
"Oscar! This could be 2–2!"
The Brazilian took a steady touch and opened his body to slot it low into the far corner…
But De Gea exploded off his line, stretching his right leg wide like a ballerina mid-pirouette —
THUMP.
A boot save. Pure reflex. The ball deflected just past the far post and out for a corner.
"Oh my word! De Gea — with his leg — keeps United in front!"
"That's elite goalkeeping! He read it early and spread like a spider. Massive save."
Oscar clutched his head in disbelief as he jogged back slowly. Ramires pointed both hands at him, frustrated but understanding.
Stamford Bridge roared in approval, but the energy buzzed with frustrated hope now.
Sir Alex clapped from the touchline, then turned and barked toward the bench."Focus! We ride this out!"
Rooney sprinted back into position, yelling, "Two more minutes! Lock it down!"
United dropped deep for the corner. Mata delivered, but Vidic rose above everyone and powered it away.
45+1 Minute
The referee blew his whistle.
Players walked off to a mixture of boos and thunderous applause — Chelsea had grown into the game, but United still led.
"What a half of football. An early blitz from United, a Mata masterpiece, and De Gea with a moment of magic to preserve the lead."
"Still everything to play for in this one — don't go anywhere."
Chelsea 1 – 2 Manchester United