Chelsea goals to come after the interval in cagey Old Trafford clash

Jose Mourinho’s first away game in his second stint as Chelsea manager sees him travel to the ground to face the team he had hoped to be managing by now.

The Special One made no secret of his admiration for Manchester United and stated when at Inter that, if the opportunity to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson arose, he may well take it. Unfortunately for him, it didn’t and he’ll be looking to show the Red Devils’ hierarchy they made the wrong decision in overlooking him.

Backable at 2/1, the Blues certainly seem excellent value for money at Old Trafford, a place where the Portuguese has a terrific record, but it’s the half markets where a sneaky opportunity for profit can be found ahead of this season-shaping encounter.

The 33/20 on offer for the second half to be the sector where the bulk of the Chelsea goals are scored in this clash – bear in mind that a downpour of them is not, repeat not, forecast – looks to be a good bet based on Mourinho’s recent exploits.

In the three full seasons he first managed in west London, the Portuguese embarked upon four visits to the Theatre of Dreams and in that time he only endured one defeat. His side won on two occasions, drawing the other. Their 1-0 reverse in the 2005/06 season was the only time of these four trips in which the Blues failed to score.

So, working from the basis that the Blues can be expected to bag at least once here, it is probably worth mentioning that in Mourinho’s final 11 away games, his side registered the majority of their goals on seven separate incidents.

This was also the case in the six of the final 11 away days of his initial Chelsea tenure too.
While a cagey game is sure to take place between the two most likely contenders for the Premier League crown, don’t expect to see the Blues bag until the second half at Old Trafford.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date