Who’s Up For The Cup

posted: 18 May 2007 Jim Butler

Want to know where the FA Cup Final between Manchester United and Chelsea will be won and lost? Then read on as we highlight five key clashes of Saturday's game.

Cristiano Ronaldo Vs Ashley Cole
Interestingly, the one full back the double Player of the Year has never been able to get any loose change from is Cashley Cole - probably 'cause the greedy swine is hording it all in some offshore account somewhere. If the Portuguese Man O' War can torment Cheryl's other half, space will be left open for the likes of Rooney, Giggs, Scholes and co to exploit.

Wayne Rooney Vs John Terry
Both Rooney and Terry have endured frustrating seasons. When the boy/man wonder Rooney has fired on all cylinders he's been near unstoppable. However, he's displayed a worrying tendency to drift out of matches at an alarming rate this year. Terry, meanwhile, has suffered horrendous injury after horrendous injury, meaning his usual tenacious Bulldog spirit has, at crucial times, gone awry.

Nemanja Vidic Vs Didier Drogba
After flattering to deceive in the early part of their British careers, both Vidic and Drogba have come into their own this season. Drogba's brute strength has been known to give even the Premiership's most towering defenders the heebee jeebees, so much will be made of his attempts to dominate Serbian man mountain Vidic.

Paul Scholes Vs Claude Makelele
Decidedly men of the old school Scholesy and Makelele go about their jobs in an undemonstrative fashion. However, this could be the game's key clash. If Scholes is allowed to pull United's creative strings, it could be a long afternoon for Terry, Essien and co. Conversely if Makelele shuts up shop in front of the back four, the Chelsea penalty area could be harder to penetrate than a virgin's knickers.

Sir Alex Ferguson Vs Jose Mourinho
Mourinho calls himself the Special One. This year, Fergie has been the undoubted Special One. Will Mourinho's ego and ongoing disputes with the Chelsea hierarchy cloud his decisions on the day? Will Fergie get his tactics right and allow Rooney the licence to destroy the Chelsea backline? It promises to be a compelling occasion.

Jim Butler - In 1996 Jim thought all his Christmases had come at once when Eric Cantona called him ‘mate’. Ten years later he met four-fifths of Girls Aloud. He still can’t decide which event excites him more. In the meantime he whiles away the working day writing and devising content for Channel 4’s mobile portal.