Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti can see Manchester United struggling if they can put pressure on their midfield tomorrow.
Ancelotti had been studying United's 2-0 loss at Liverpool two weeks ago, and was refreshingly honest.
While he does not feel Rafa Benitez's team are currently in a position to challenge for honours, he was impressed with the way they made life uncomfortable for United's middle men at Anfield.
Ancelotti said: "The Liverpool match was fantastic. They put a lot of pressure on United and that is why they won. They didn't give United any possibility to play like they want to play. It was a good lesson for us because Manchester can suffer when there's pressure on their midfielders.
"I don't want to just play against other team's weaknesses. We want to put our own qualities on the pitch. I think Manchester United have a very good team. Like us, they are doing very well because they have qualified in the Champions League and have done very well in the Premier League. Every team is vulnerable, though. There is not a team that is invincible. Right? Ferdinand is a very good defender. Without Ferdinand they lose something, but Evans and O'Shea are very good centre-backs.
"The best thing is to maintain a balance. They have a good defence but also fantastic strikers. Rooney is one of the most intelligent strikers in the world, so we have to think about him. He has the quality to play everywhere. Up front, they have done very well after losing Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.
"Alex Ferguson has certainly done a fantastic job with this team. For a coach to stay such a long time with one team is very difficult, not only in England but everywhere. In Italy it would be impossible, for sure. He's a very important man for the history of this club. United have a fantastic history and Ferguson is one of the most important men in this history.
"Sometimes against Ferguson I've won. Sometimes he's won. But it's not a match between Ancelotti and Ferguson - it's Chelsea v Manchester United. I have a very good relationship with Ferguson. I think that he's one of the best coaches in the world. He's won a lot of trophies.
"I think he has more experience than me about English football, but my opinion is that it's difficult to see English or Italian football... it's about international football."
