Maguire wants to stop
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is determined to “spoil” Chelsea’s promising start to life under Thomas Tuchel.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s secondplaced side head to Stamford Bridge today, six points better off than the in-form hosts, who have yet to lose since German Tuchel succeeded club great Frank Lampard last month.
Tuchel extended his unbeaten start to life at Chelsea to an eighth match in all competitions with Tuesday’s impressive 1-0 first-leg win against La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last-16.
United head to west London looking to maintain their own impressive record, having gone undefeated in a club best 19 successive top-flight away games – a run that started with last February’s 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
“Obviously, Chelsea’s going to be a tough game, but we went there last year and won and we’ll be looking to do that again,” said skipper Maguire.
“They’re keeping their position very nicely and build up really well and not conceding many goals, so it’s a good start for them. We’re hoping to spoil that.
“It’s a great reaction to the change of manager. They’re a great group of players with tons of talent and the money they spent in the summer, they’re starting to gel, starting to tick,
but we’ve got to look at ourselves, first and foremost.
“We go into the game full of confidence, full of belief. We’ll make sure we play to the ability of what we’re capable of and go and get the three points.”
Donny van de Beek should return to the United fold at Stamford Bridge, but Solskjaer said Edinson Cavani and Scott Mctominay remain with Paul Pogba on the sidelines.
Juan Mata is out and Daniel James is being assessed after limping out of the Europa League last-32 second leg 0-0 draw with Real Sociedad on Thursday, when Solskjaer rested some players as they boasted a 4-0 first-leg lead.
Maguire was among those reduced to a watching brief, but is sure to be restored to the starting line-up as United continue to juggle domestic and European exertions at an important period of the season.
Tuchel, meanwhile, is unsure where best to use Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz yet, but is positive the £71million signing will have a big role to play for the Blues.
It has been a tough start to life in London for the 21-year-old since a summer switch, with a bout of coronavirus followed by numerous small injuries which have limited his game time.
Since he swapped the Bundesliga for the Premier League, Havertz has scored only five goals in all competitions and three of them came in his third game against Barnsley in the EFL Cup back in September.
But manager Tuchel is confident his fellow German will hit the heights he reached at Bayer Leverkusen in the English capital and will be part of the squad to face United.
“Since I arrived, the only thing that kept him from making a big impact is his injury, nothing else,” the Blues boss said.
“I see a committed guy, I see a guy who made a brave decision to move abroad at a young age and to go out of his comfort zone and accept a big challenge in a big team, in the biggest League.
“I see a guy who is aware of that, full of talent, unlimited talent and I see a player who will have a big impact in Chelsea, I’m absolutely convinced.
“The mix gives me that feeling that he can have a big role in this club and he is absolutely determined to fulfil his role.
“We will find this role and now we need to give him the time it takes. But he is ready, we are very happy he is back in the squad and he will lift our offensive potential, there is no doubt.”
Havertz was used in a variety of positions by Tuchel’s predecessor Frank Lampard, including as a No. 10, but also in central midfield and out wide.
“He is a unique player. It’s not so clear where he needs to settle, does he need to settle on one special position? Or is he kind of a hybrid player?” Tuchel reflected.
“Today, I would say he’s in between a nine and a 10, something in between. He’s very comfortable in high positions.”