LINDELOF READY TO TAKE ON CHELSEA
Victor Lindelof has learned some valuable lessons from playing regularly at the heart of the Manchester United defence this season.
Our Swedish centre-back thrives on playing in big matches – and Sunday’s significant clash against top-four rivals Chelsea certainly falls into that bracket.
“Every match is huge for us,” the Reds’ no.2 told United Review in an exclusive interview with the matchday programme.
“For me, I always want to play in the big games against the top teams. That’s what you work for every day and what you dream about when you’re younger, to play these kinds of games. I live for these matches.”
‘WE KNEW HOW TO DEFEND AGAINST THEM’
We are unbeaten in our previous two games against Chelsea this term, which both took place at Stamford Bridge, with Victor playing in each encounter.
Of his memories of October’s 2-2 draw in the Premier League, he told United Review: “We deserved the win there. We performed well, but that’s football. They got a last-minute goal [through Ross Barkley] and it is what it is, but if you look back at that game, we performed well for most of it. We can take a lot of good things with us from that game.”
Lindelof felt United executed their gameplan to perfection to emerge with a 2-0 victory in the Emirates FA Cup at Chelsea's home in February.
“That was also a great match for us,” he opined. “Tactically, we knew exactly what we wanted to do and how to defend against them, and to find spaces to play around their pressing game. It was a very good game for us and the fact we won made it a very good night.”
‘WE’LL BE READY FOR THIS GAME’
A victory in our penultimate home game of the season will move Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side level on points with Maurizio Sarri’s fourth-placed Blues heading into our final two games, against Huddersfield Town away and Cardiff City at Old Trafford.
Chelsea have struggled on the road of late – and at the Theatre of Dreams in recent seasons – but Victor needs no reminding of the threat the west London outfit can pose and insists the Reds will be prepared for the battle ahead.
“They’re just a very good team with some fantastic players,” the 24-year-old said. “Even if they have a bad day, they still have very good individual players who can create chances from almost nothing.
“They’re very good in possession so you have to be really focused when you’re defending. You can’t give them too much space. They’re a good team but we’ll be ready for this game.”
‘YOU HAVE TO STAY CLOSE TO HAZARD’
Of course, the Blues possess the talent of Eden Hazard, who has the most assists in the league so far this season. However, Victor is well aware of how to approach the challenge of defending against the Belgian superstar.
“Don’t give him too much space because he will do something great, he’s a fantastic player. He’s shown that for a lot of years now. You have to stay close to him and don’t let him have any space with the ball facing our goal.”
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