Few third round FA Cup ties have been more eagerly awaited than tomorrow's noon encounter between Chelsea, the Cup holders, and Manchester United, the Premier League champions, at Stamford Bridge. But does the world's oldest knockout tournament still enjoy the same prestige and are the leading clubs as passionate about winning it as they used to be?
Last season Ruud Gullit's pleasure at becoming the first foreign manager to lead a team to victory in an FA Cup final was genuine enough and Chelsea's subsequent progress in the Cup Winners Cup has given the club an added fillip. Yet the rewards for success in the FA Cup are insignificant compared to the riches available in the Champions League, and for halfa-dozen teams involved in ties this weekend the latter has the greater appeal financially if not emotionally.
No doubt the supporters of Blackburn, Liverpool, Leeds United and Arsenal would relish the prospect of a trip to Wembley on May 16th along with Chelsea's followers, for whom the novelty can hardly have worn off. And Manchester United's fans cannot be so blase that they would pass up the chance of a fourth FA Cup final in five seasons.
However, the choice between winning the Cup and occupying one of the top two positions in the league is hardly a choice at all. And while Manchester United remain odds-on favourites to win their fifth title in six years, despite last Sunday's hiccup at Coventry, the contest for second place and entry to next season's qualifying round in the Champions' League promises to be much tighter.
So while the leading sides will hardly shrug aside the FA Cup, as some have taken to doing in the League Cup, none will be taking their eyes off the main chance. And Manchester United have the added complication of regarding this season's Champions' League as their principle ambition with retention of the championship a guarantee of immediate participation in the next, should they go out.
Alex Ferguson will demand nothing less than maximum effort from his team at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. Chelsea have a habit of sticking in United's craw and after Sunday's careless defeat at High field Road Ferguson will expect his players to spring back on the rebound. Denis Irwin, out of action since Paul Bosvelt's wild tackle from behind in the Feyenoord Stadium two months ago, is due to return at left-back for the suspended Phil Neville.
What Manchester United do not need this season, however, are cup replays and this may condition their approach to tomorrow's match and, if they win it, subsequent ties. In other words United may take an all-or-nothing view of the FA Cup. If so it should be fun while it lasts.
Chelsea simply need to rediscover the prolific pre-Christmas form which started to unravel with the disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Wimbledon on St Stephen's Day followed by Monday's 1-0 defeat at Southampton. Gullit's team rotations make sense when the team is winning but acquire the Mad Hatter's tea-party touch when things begin to go wrong.
Arsenal are in similar need of a surge in the Cup to arrest a slump in the league. They ought to beat Port Vale at Highbury but Ian Wright is suspended, Lee Dixon, David Platt and Tony Adams are unfit and flu-hit Dennis Bergkamp looked like death warmed up at White Hart Lane last Sunday. Arsene Wenger needs to win something this season after the high promise of autumn.
The gradual resurgence of Leeds United, moreover, is providing an apt reminder that whatever George Graham might have done off the field at Arsenal he remains a winning manager and coach. Leeds could steal to Wembley this time provided Oxford United do not revive embarrassing memories at Elland Road today.
Liverpool, however, look a better Cup bet, having struck a rich vein of form in time for the third round. Four straight victories have revived the confidence of Roy Evans's team and the only doubt about Liverpool's ability to overcome Coventry at Anfield concerns the defensive lapses which continue to occur, especially at set pieces.
Provided the draw keeps them apart, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Leeds are likely quarter-finalists. Blackburn, Aston Villa and Newcastle could join them and Watford might be another Chesterfield. Or perhaps Tottenham Hotspur will win their ninth FA Cup to the strains of Onward Christian Soldiers. Anything is possible at this stage - even that.
