"The Merchants of Dreams"....

                  It has all boiled down to the same! Manchester United host Chelsea in a Title-decider on Sunday, that will define their respective seasons.It's been the same last year,and the year before last, in fact straight back from 2003! Ever since Roman Abramovich took over Chelsea that year, the Blues have installed themselves as the firm challengers to United's long run of success.

Finally it had to come to this....the "English Classico" will decide who rules England!

            
   Yet, it looked so different this year.After a blitzkrieg start to the season, Chelsea seemed to have fallen irretrievably, while Arsenal seemed destined to end their Title-drought,having been left with a much easier title run-in than Manchester United.But as they have made the habit of it, Arsenal capitulated in the business-end of the season,but while United looked to run away with the league, Chelsea have somehow mounted a serious challenge to leave United with an uncomfortable idea of a potential Title-decider, albeit at home, to win their record 19th title.
             Couple of months ago,had you asked any football fan about Chelsea, they would have said the Blues were likely to find it tough to pip Spurs in the race for 4th, for that Champions League qualification slot.In fact, going into half-time on March 1, at Stamford Bridge vs Manchester United, Chelsea faced a mammoth 18-point gap from the leaders.Fast-forward to this week, and astonishingly they have cut it down to 3,and they have a much realistic chance of making it a Big-fat Zero this weekend.

Clash of the Titans....they may have not been the giants that they were last season, but Drog and Roo will have  the final say in the Title-race!

              Now, to be really honest, both Chelsea and United have both looked their own pale shadows this season.Even when United were sitting pretty at the top, they were somehow grinding out results, even against small teams.As Harry Redknapp rightly pointed out, United were winning the title "By Default" as their challengers had faltered badly.As for Chelsea, they were simply horrible in mid-season, in what Carlo Ancelotti called as their "bad moment"(a moment, which stretched approximately to 3 months!). Even in their amazing turn-around , they have hardly looked their vintage-best,to be truthful.True, they beat United, City and Spurs in this period, but we haven't yet seen the dominating performances, those were the high-lights of last season.Always they have looked capable of much more, even while winning, but always unable to reach "that next gear", that thy always threaten with.
                 But credit to them, they have still somehow mounted a strong title-challenge.People wrote them off, in as early as December.They have had lots of problems (lots of them self-inflicted, I must say!). But they have fought, battle-hardened and bruised, they have rallied around their beleaguered manager,as he attempts  to produce truly a mother of all comebacks,ever witnessed in English Football.Unfortunately for him, the most difficult part comes now, to go and beat the league-leaders in their own backyard.Just if you though United were faltering,after watching them vs Arsenal, they showed the world what they are capable of, recording a 6-1 thumping of Schalke in Champions League, the biggest victory ever achieved in a Champions League semi-final.49 points out of 51,their home-record for this season reads.The task is a gigantic one, even for the defending champions.But let's not forget who was the last team to go and win at Old Trafford. Should I decide to drop a hint, they were also from London, and they wore a lot of Blue.



                I have got you this awesome video I came across on the Internet.It was actually made for the Champions League Quarter-final between these two, but the emotions it elicits from your inner-self are exactly the same.Feel the passion burning within you,enjoy the rush of adrenaline, for on Sunday, in the Theater of Dreams, it will be War.


                  Still, in the end, I don't know why I have an inkling in my mind, I never usually feel this way before a game.But, even though my heart beats for Chelsea,my head says it's Manchester United.Cometh the Sunday, I'm desperately hoping to be proven wrong at the "Theater Of Dreams"!