Man Utd Preview: Deco Leaves for Fluminense

Deco finally left Chelsea last night on compassionate grounds to join Brazilian outfit Fluminense after long running and protracted negotiations. Deco spent two years at Chelsea, scoring a wonderful goal against Portsmouth on his debut. Unfortunately due to many niggling injuries he was unable to live up to his early promise.

We wish him and his family well and thank you Deco for your time at Chelsea Football Club.

The Double Winners travel to Wembley this afternoon to play Man Utd in the 2010/11 Premiership season curtain-raiser and after a catastrophic mini-tour of Europe its a game where Utd can rip our defence to shreds if the defence play like they did against Ajax, Frankfurt and Hamburg.

The Boss 'Anco,' has already announced that Hilario will play in goal and 'Anco' said at the time of the announcement, "We must have trust."

Trust is OK if the four men in front of you are up and ready for the challenge.

There is a saying. You are only as good as a goalkeeper as the defence in front of you.

Of the seven goals conceded against Ajax, Eintracht and Hamburg, FIVE came from basic, elementary, schoolboy error mistakes that must have had Sir Alex chuckling into his nightly glass of Whiskey.

After his 'laddish' escapades last weekend, Wayne Rooney may get 45 minutes, along with Michael Owen who featured in the mauling of a League of Ireland XI in midweek.

Today's result will have no bearing on the race for the title, although the last three winners, Chelsea and Man Utd (2) have gone on to win the Premiership.

Utd will be looking for their 18th Shield success, Chelsea a 5th.

The real battle begins next weekend when Chelsea take on WBA at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal travel to Liverpool and Utd home to Newcastle on next Monday evening.