Five facts: The need-to-know numbers ahead of Man Utd vs Chelsea
After Arsenal secured their FA Cup final spot at Wembley, earning a 2-0 win over Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea face off to determine who will meet the Gunners next month. Here, we pick out five key facts to watch out for ahead of the highly-anticipated clash...
Who will pay the penalty at Wembley?
If either side wins a penalty, then you can be sure one of their star men will hit the back of the net. Manchester United are the top penalty scoring side in the Premier League this season, hitting the back of the net nine times from the spot. Chelsea follow them in second, having struck seven penalties in England's top tier this term. No team may have missed more penalties than United (4) in the Premier League this season, but of the nine players to have scored from 12-yards on three or more occasions in 2019/20, United and Chelsea make up four of those.
Marcus Rashford leads the way with six penalties scored, Willian has done so four times, while Bruno Fernandes and Jorginho each have on three occasions. With a shoot-out a possibility at Wembley, either side will be confident of coming away victorious, but even so; if a penalty is awarded in normal time, United and Chelsea have personnel at hand to tuck away from the spot.
Olivier Giroud's remarkable FA Cup record
Olivier Giroud has scored the ninth most FA Cup goals in the history of the competition, hitting the back of the net 15 times. Head coach Frank Lampard may elect to rest the Frenchman ahead of the next week's Premier League finale, yet having scored the only goal of the game in their 1-0 win over Norwich last week, it's important to carry that momentum into today's FA Cup semi-final.
And if Giroud is the man to lead the line for the Blues, and get his name on the scoresheet once more, then Chelsea will be hopeful of securing an FA Cup final spot. Indeed, Giroud has scored in 11 FA Cup matches in his career - nine for Arsenal and two for Chelsea - and his side has secured victory in every single one. Chelsea will be hoping that record can continue in today's semi-final match.
Manchester United to go four-for-four against Chelsea?
Manchester United have already faced Chelsea three times this season. United smashed the Blues 4-0 at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the campaign, before a Marcus Rashford double secured a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup in October. Then in February this year, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer masterminded a 2-0 win in west London.
As they are looking to go four-for-four against the Blues, United are the only side to have beaten Chelsea four times in a season, that coming in 2011/12. Supporters are hoping history can repeat itself today as they seek to ultimately move level with Arsenal on 13 FA Cup trophies.
Chelsea's FA Cup dominance
That being said, Chelsea are FA Cup pros. Today's clash with United is their third semi-final appearance in the last four seasons and 11th this century. They have reached eight FA Cup finals and won the trophy six times in that run, so have the means to edge past United on the familiar Wembley turf. Having overcome Liverpool and Leicester on their way to the semi-finals, they have the big game experience against Premier League giants that stands them in good stead against United this evening.
Clean sheet on the cards?
Across nine FA Cup matches this season, both Manchester United and Chelsea have conceded just two goals. More often than not, there is a clean sheet between the pair when they face off. Indeed, in the last 15 meetings between the Manchester powerhouse and their London counterparts, there have been 11 clean sheets kept, including a 0-0 draw between the two sides in 2015.
With Sergio Romero expected to deputise for David De Gea between the sticks for United, Solskjaer will be confident his side can ease to the FA Cup final with the Argentine keeping 38 clean sheets in his 59 appearances for United. Conversely, Lampard is expected to use Willy Caballero from the get go, so there is a key head-to-head between two Argentine shotstoppers today.
