17 September,2011 07:58 AM IST | | AFP
Chelsea are determined to bring Manchester United's electrifying start to the season to a juddering halt on Sunday as the Premier League rivals collide in a heavyweight clash at Old Trafford.
Still not fit: Didier Drogba
The Londoners travel to Manchester as underdogs having already suffered three crucial defeats against Sir Alex Ferguson's men this year, losing in both the league and Champions League at the tail-end of last season. As if their poor recent record wasn't daunting enough, Chelsea are also facing a United side who have started the season in dazzling form, racking up four consecutive wins and notching an unprecedented 18 goals.
Chelsea know only too well however that early season appearances can be misleading, pointing to the club's blistering start last year, when they notched 17 goals in four wins before enduring a slump which scuppered their challenge. "United started very well this season but, if you remember, we started last season the same," Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic said.
"They've improved as a group but we have our aim, we have our idea and we try to use this on the pitch.
"It's going to be the hardest game for us until now and we have to show more than 100 per cent of our power."
Drogba won't play
Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas admits Didier Drogba is set to miss Sunday's clash against Manchester United as the Ivory Coast striker continues to recover from concussion. The 33-year-old resumed full training with Chelsea's first team squad on Friday, but Villas-Boas believes the trip to Old Trafford had come a week too soon for Drogba.u00a0 ufffd
