Chelsea's Olivier Giroud and Man United's Alexis Sanchez return to happy hunting ground

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  • Chelsea and Manchester United face-off in this season’s FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, in what is the third time the two teams have clashed in the showpiece match.

    The Red Devils won their first meeting emphatically, back in 1994, 4-0 – but the Blues gained revenge 13 years later as a then Jose Mourinho-managed Chelsea clinched a 1-0 win in 2007 in the first final contested at the newly built Home of English Football.

    This weekend, there are key battlegrounds all over the pitch that will go some way to deciding the outcome of this one.

    Here, we compare some of the key protagonists:

    TOP MARKSMEN

    OLIVIER GIROUD vs ALEXIS SANCHEZ

    Wind the clock back to the 2017 final and the Chilean was the absolute star of the show. He led Arsenal to victory against Chelsea, scoring in the fourth minute in a man-of-the match display which we haven’t seen him produce with any kind of consistency yet for the Red Devils.

    But, if last year is anything to go by, that should be a lucky omen in turn with the fact Sanchez has scored eight goals in as many appearances at Wembley during his career. Two of them came in finals for the Gunners while he has scored in his past five outings at the historic venue.

    The 29-year-old, who began to find some rhythm at the end of the Premier League season, will start to the right of a 70 per cent fit Romelu Lukaku and should buzz around the penalty box – keeping N’Golo Kante occupied in the midfield.

    Meanwhile, fresh from his call-up to France’s World Cup squad, another former Gunner – Giroud – will look to end a difficult Stamford Bridge debut campaign on a high.

    Like Sanchez, he has plenty of history of performing well in this fixture. In the 2014 final, he assisted Aaron Ramsey for Arsenal’s winner against Hull City, scored in the 4-0 drubbing of Aston Villa a season later and last year laid the ball on for Ramsey to net again against the team he currently plies his trade for.

    Hold-up play and awareness of that ilk will be crucial on Saturday – giving Eden Hazard the chance to roam and find a supply line to Giroud, who has netted just five times all season.

    THE BATTLE IN THE MIDDLE

    CESC FABREGAS vs PAUL POGBA

    fabregas, pogba

    The French star has had a turbulent campaign, increasing speculation he could leave Old Trafford for Paris Saint-Germain this summer, but regardless, the 25-year-old needs to boss this game like he did when he netted a brace during the 3-2 win against Manchester City last month.

    In a week when Chelsea legend Frank Lampard claimed that Pogba needs to start doing his business in the opposition’s half of the pitch more often than his own, what better way to silence the critics than producing a wonder show at Wembley. To do that, he does need some help from Mourinho in giving him license to roam, with Nemanja Matic holding.

    When Pogba does play with more freedom, naturally, United improve and he has more of an impact. Ten Premier League assists, 39 chances created, 75 take-ons completed and six goals tell part of the story – though there is room for sufficient improvement in that last stat.

    Effectively his opposite number in the middle of the pitch, Cesc Fabregas, is at a different stage during his illustrious career – but not a comfortable juncture. At 31, the Spaniard has appeared devoid of his famed invention this term and openly admitted the forward line ahead of him, singling out Alvaro Morata, has not fired.

    An excuse? Not quite, but he hasn’t been helped by those around him. Meanwhile, for the ex-Barcelona star, three goals and just five assists in all competitions this season has been a poor return but, on his day, he is still capable of producing a moment of magic.

    With no World Cup to look forward to this summer, this is definitely Fabregas’ last chance to add a touch of sheen to a miserable season as he comes up against a powerful and energetic United midfield.

    THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE

    GARY CAHILL vs PHIL JONES

    Cahill, Jones

    The clash between two men who are battling for a berth at the heart of Gareth Southgate’s England side this summer. It’s not out of the question that both could start in a 3-5-2 formation occupied by the Three Lions, but even so, this is a last-minute audition with Southgate sure to be in attendance in greater London.

    The 32-year-old Cahill’s last international call-up came seven months ago and after a wretched season for his club, it may have come as a surprise he was selected earlier this week. Russia will be the last thing on the centre-back’s mind at the moment though as he does his best as captain to try and repair a campaign that will be in complete tatters should Chelsea lose.

    Cahill has looked a shadow of his old self at times, his woeful display in the home defeat against Bournemouth back in February being proof of that, but he is the utmost professional and will still give everything to the cause.

    Jones, on the other hand, has grown in stature under Mourinho and silenced any doubters he had. United are simply a better defensive outfit when he is the side and have kept 15 clean sheets in 23 Premier League matches in which he was part of the backline – equating to 85 per cent of United’s season.

    Without him, there were just three shutouts in 15 games. He looks increasingly comfortable alongside Chris Smalling or Eric Bailly. If Jones and his colleagues can hold it together against a Chelsea attack lacking in terms of both confidence and goals, then the Red Devils have reason to believe they can lift a 13th FA Cup.

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