Busy times for United, Chelsea

Manchester United and Chelsea face a challenging 48-hour turnaround ahead of their FA Cup quarterfinal replay at Stamford Bridge on Monday.

Both sides were in Premier League action on Saturday, giving them little time to prepare for an encounter that carries with it the tantalizing prize of a semifinal date with Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.

United manager Alex Ferguson made several changes for his side's 1-0 win at Sunderland, with Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs among the players omitted from the squad altogether.

Despite United's reputation for endurance in major competitions, center-back Jonny Evans admits it is something of a novelty to play two games in such quick succession.

"I have never really been in this situation before, so it will be new to probably most of us," said the Northern Ireland international.

"It's just all about tonight (Saturday). We will probably go back and get a good recovery session in and make sure we have done everything we can physically to make sure we are right for the game on Monday."

Ferguson is desperate to see United end its nine-year wait for FA Cup glory, having seen his side beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in 2007 in its last appearance in the final.

The Scot will also be keenly aware that, with four FA Cup triumphs in the last six seasons, Chelsea is intruding upon United's territory as the most successful side in the history of the game's oldest cup competition.

However, his decision to shuffle his pack against Sunderland owed as much to his team's dominant position in the Premier League as it did to his desire to add a sixth FA Cup winner's medal to his collection.

United's win at the Stadium of Light enabled it to preserve its 15-point lead at the top of the standings and a 20th English title appears a formality.

(China Daily 04/01/2013 page24)