Match Preview

Ferguson:

"There is no question that Chelsea have enjoyed unparalleled success under Mourinho.

"Arsenal have probably been our most consistent challengers down the years, but when Mourinho's Chelsea came along they turned the table upside down in one season. Suddenly they were the team you had to be looking to beat. I have to say I enjoyed the competition, though. With Jose. It was something new for me, having this new kid on the block. What he said to the press and the way his teams played gave us something different to assess. He made life harder for us all, set a new challenge, and in that situation you can either lie down and wither or do something about it. We are the sort of club that has to do something about it.

"Over the last two years Chelsea's consistency has been so good not a lot of teams have beaten them, us included, although they have had a lot of draws," he said. "That's an indication of how difficult they are to beat. They eke something from a game. Last season we outplayed them first half but they got a corner kick and a little break and scored. They are capable of doing that because they have a good determination about them not to give in in matches, and this won't be any different. It will be a hard, hard match.

"It's easy for the Chelsea players in one respect because they are playing United, and you wouldn't think they would want any motivation for that. It might have been more difficult if they were playing a lesser team.

"Even though he [Mourinho] has gone, that is not the end of their challenge. They still have untold resources at the club and they still have the same group of players. Despite what has been said, they are all well paid and I don't see any reason why anyone would want to leave. The only thing I can see happening is that if Jose ends up at a substantial club, he might want to buy one or two of them.

"I hope it's five one-nils [in a row] by Sunday night. Chelsea have a lot of determination, their consistency has been so good over the last couple of years that not many teams have managed to beat them. They can score and they can come back at you, because they don't give in, and I don't see this game being any different. One-nil would do me fine. I'd be delighted.

About the Chelsea manager:

"It's a great job, for anyone.

"Even though Jose has gone, they still have untold resources at that club. I don't think you can say that's the end of Chelsea or their title challenge. They have still got the same group of players, they are all well paid, there is no obvious reason why anyone would want to leave. The only thing I can foresee happening is Jose turning up at a substantial club and wanting to buy one or two of them. You never know.

"He used to come to training here, when he was in charge of Israel and Maccabi Haifa. He came two or three times. He seems a nice man. He was very inquisitive, asking how we did this and why we did that, then he left the Israel job and I never heard of him for a spell until he turned up at Portsmouth.

"It's a big step up, what has just been thrust upon him, but he seems a calm lad. And in one sense at least it should be easy for him to come here. Chelsea know the drill when they are playing United. They know what to do. I shouldn't think motivation will be a problem."

"If we can win, that would be Chelsea getting one point from nine in their last three games.

"You never know what that might do to their confidence.

"I know we didn't have the best of starts this season but it is amazing how quickly it has turned round.

"Now we have a chance to go three points in front of them, which makes it a massive game, even if it is not going to decide the title."

More:

"You have to regard Chelsea as the main threat. [title]

"They have won two titles out of the last three but they have had a difficult start because, like ourselves, they have had a lot of injuries.

"It will be a lot tougher this year anyway because clubs like Everton and Tottenham have really good squads now. Liverpool will be up there and Arsenal have had a fantastic start.

"We just have to keep plugging away and picking points up."

Saha:

"Drogba and Lampard are very important to Chelsea, we can see that now and, though they have players who can hurt you, we're going to make sure that they don't show that quality. The game brings back good memories for me because when I scored against them last year I was in some of the best form of my life."

"We would definitely settle for 1-0.

"As a player, there is nothing better than knowing you have come through a really tough, hard game.

"Despite what has happened this week, I still expect Chelsea to be our biggest rivals for the title.

"They have been there for the last three or four years, so while Jose will be a big loss, their players know what they have to do and what they are capable of doing.

"So, whether it comes in the sixth minute or the 88th, I would take 1-0 right now."

On Mourinho:

"It was a shock. [Mourinho leaving]

"English football is going to miss him because he was a different character who brought a lot to the game here.

"You have to respect what he has achieved and no matter what he moves onto, I am sure he will do well.

"It is certainly a sad day for Chelsea because he will be a big loss to them.

"They really have to get their heads down and get over it but he has won so many trophies for them, I don't believe it will blow over as quickly as that."

Mourinho:

Gary Pallister:

Football throws up some strange results, but United will be firm favourites for Sunday because of the turmoil that has gone on at Stamford Bridge.

The players will be on a downer because they have lost a friend as well as a manager.

They are already without Drogba and Lampard so it makes things even more difficult for them.

It is going to be a huge job for them to pick themselves up in such a short space of time and then play one of your title rivals on their own patch.

The Observer:

Sir Alex Ferguson does not believe the Chelsea job is a poisoned chalice, despite the week's events at Stamford Bridge. He expects Avram Grant to be given at least the rest of the season, with a first-team coach to be appointed in the near future, and says the queue would stretch 'from here to London Bridge' were the position of successor to Jose Mourinho ever to be advertised.

'It's a great job, for anyone,' the Manchester United manager insists in advance of Chelsea's visit to Old Trafford this afternoon. 'Even though Jose has gone, they still have untold resources at that club. I don't think you can say that's the end of Chelsea or their title challenge. They have still got the same group of players, they are all well paid, there is no obvious reason why anyone would want to leave. The only thing I can foresee happening is Jose turning up at a substantial club and wanting to buy one or two of them. You never know.'

BBC Squads:

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to stick with the same squad which carved out a midweek Champions League win in Lisbon.

Gary Neville and Owen Hargreaves are inching towards full fitness but neither will play and Carlos Tevez and Nani are vying for a place in attack.

Chelsea manager Avram Grant will start his first match in charge with Andriy Shevchenko in attack as Didier Drogba and Claudio Pizarro are both injured.

Frank Lampard and Ricardo Carvalho remain sidelined with thigh injuries.

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Heaton, Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand, Pique, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Anderson, Nani, Gibson, Eagles, Martin, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez, Saha, Dong.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Terry, Alex, Ben Haim, Obi, A Cole, Belletti, J Cole, Essien, Shevchenko, Kalou, Malouda, Wright-Phillips, Obi, Sidwell, Sawyer, Hutchinson.

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