Manchester United take on Chelsea in the Premier League this evening with neither side really where they want to be after disappointing seasons.
We used to seeing Chelsea in the mix with United around the upper echelons of the Premier League table.
Both clubs are still considered to be part of the ‘big six’ but they are the only two sides currently outside of the top five.
United just haven’t hit the performance levels required this season and sit 11 points off the top four as things stand.
Chelsea have been even worse, spending millions upon millions under Todd Boehly but actually going backwards.
The Blues sit 12th in the Premier League table heading into tonight’s game and are eight points behind United.
These are two teams seeking an identity and some consistency, with this game likely to be a far cry from the old Jose Mourinho v Sir Alex Ferguson battles.
Chelsea star to miss Manchester United clash
United head to West London with a host of injuries in the squad and Erik ten Hag will be left hoping that some are fit enough to start.
Chelsea’s situation isn’t all that much better and one key man is set to miss out again.
Forward Christopher Nkunku has barely featured for Chelsea since completing a £52million move from RB Leipzig last summer.
The Frenchman arrived with a huge reputation after smashing 70 goals and 56 assists across 172 appearances in Germany.
Nkunku has suffered injury problems all season long though and has managed just 319 minutes of Premier League action across seven appearances.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Nkunku will not feature against United tonight – and he doesn’t even know if he will play again this season.
Speaking to Football London, Pochettino has noted that Nkunku still isn’t even in training, so he certainly won’t be in action against United.
“At the moment we don’t know when it’s possible to train with the team, at the moment he is not training with us,” said Pochettino. “His recovery is longer than we expected. It was after the final where he played 30 or 40 minutes, there was a problem and we didn’t know we found out after the game.”
“This type of circumstance, it affects overall the things because it’s not only him but too many players this season. But I hope that he can be involved again quickly, as soon as possible in the dynamic of the team and of course if he should be really really good before the end of the season then we can come with him and he can be part of the team, I hope that that happens,” he added.
Ralf Rangnick wanted Christopher Nkunku at Manchester United
It could have all been so different for Nkunku as he may have actually been a United player.
Ralf Rangnick spent time as United’s interim boss in the 2021-22 season and was hoping to bring Nkunku to Old Trafford.
Rangnick was previously a key part of the Red Bull football project and had therefore seen plenty of Nkunku in action.
The German admitted that a deal for Nkunku would have been ‘realistic’ for United but the club chose to go in another direction.
Nkunku looked like a real missed opportunity for United a year ago as he continued to rack up the goals in Germany.
The verdict may be somewhat changing now as the last thing United need is an expensive signing sitting on the treatment table.
Nkunku is undoubtedly a quality player when fit and available but his injury record means we never really see him at his best in the Premier League.