Manchester United vs Chelsea LIVE: Latest score and updates from Old Trafford with Louis van Gaal on the brink
Louis van Gaal has urged Manchester United to "dare to play football"
as they look to end a run of four straight defeats when they host
Chelsea at Old Trafford.
United suffered to a 2-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Stoke City on Boxing Day, their fourth in a row in all competitions.
The Dutchman even suggested after the match that he could consider stepping down should United lose at Old Trafford on Monday, although he remains in charge.
With just two days to recover both physically and mentally after the Stoke loss, Van Gaal has called on his players to be brave against the BPL champions, who are unbeaten in five against United.
"You can say we can quickly get over this defeat by playing against Chelsea but in the time in between, you have to recover because the players have given everything," he told MUTV.
"Then you have to manage that you are very confident to start the Chelsea game, and that you dare to play football – our football! It is very difficult to do that in just two days but we shall try."
Chelsea parted company with Jose Mourinho earlier this month but were forced to settle for a point against Watford in Guus Hiddink's first match back in interim charge, as Oscar missed a penalty in the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Hiddink has a strong record against Van Gaal, having beaten his AZ Alkmaar side three times with PSV Eindhoven in the 2005/06 season, and Willian says Chelsea's top-four hopes will remain alive if they can take maximum points from Old Trafford.
"I think we deserved to win. We played well second half. We kept fighting and then we scored," he told www.chelseafc.com after the Watford match.
"Now we have to rest and be ready for Monday. This situation is difficult for us but I think we can go and win game by game and finish the league in the top four."
Chelsea's hopes of winning on the road for just the second time in the league this season were dealt a blow when Diego Costa picked up a fifth booking of the campaign against Watford, ruling him out of the United match.
Radamel Falcao could lead Chelsea's attack against the side he struggled with during last season's loan spell from Monaco, having shaken off a muscle problem. Eden Hazard is still battling for full fitness, though.
United captain Wayne Rooney may be restored to the line-up after being benched against Stoke, while Matteo Darmian (hamstring) could be fit to return and Bastian Schweinsteiger is back from suspension.
Jesse Lingard (hamstring), Marcos Rojo (shoulder), Antonio Valencia (ankle) and Luke Shaw (leg) are out.
Manchester United (from): De Gea, Romero, Johnstone, Valdes, Darmian, Jones, McNair, Smalling, Varela, Blind, Carrick, Fellaini, Herrera, Mata, Pereira, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Young, Depay, Martial, Rooney.
Chelsea (from): Begovic, Blackman, Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Djilobodji, Ivanovic, Rahman, Terry, Zouma, Fabregas, Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Traore, Willian, Kenedy, Pedro, Falcao, Remy.
United suffered to a 2-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Stoke City on Boxing Day, their fourth in a row in all competitions.
The Dutchman even suggested after the match that he could consider stepping down should United lose at Old Trafford on Monday, although he remains in charge.
With just two days to recover both physically and mentally after the Stoke loss, Van Gaal has called on his players to be brave against the BPL champions, who are unbeaten in five against United.
"You can say we can quickly get over this defeat by playing against Chelsea but in the time in between, you have to recover because the players have given everything," he told MUTV.
"Then you have to manage that you are very confident to start the Chelsea game, and that you dare to play football – our football! It is very difficult to do that in just two days but we shall try."
Chelsea parted company with Jose Mourinho earlier this month but were forced to settle for a point against Watford in Guus Hiddink's first match back in interim charge, as Oscar missed a penalty in the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Hiddink has a strong record against Van Gaal, having beaten his AZ Alkmaar side three times with PSV Eindhoven in the 2005/06 season, and Willian says Chelsea's top-four hopes will remain alive if they can take maximum points from Old Trafford.
"I think we deserved to win. We played well second half. We kept fighting and then we scored," he told www.chelseafc.com after the Watford match.
"Now we have to rest and be ready for Monday. This situation is difficult for us but I think we can go and win game by game and finish the league in the top four."
Chelsea's hopes of winning on the road for just the second time in the league this season were dealt a blow when Diego Costa picked up a fifth booking of the campaign against Watford, ruling him out of the United match.
Radamel Falcao could lead Chelsea's attack against the side he struggled with during last season's loan spell from Monaco, having shaken off a muscle problem. Eden Hazard is still battling for full fitness, though.
United captain Wayne Rooney may be restored to the line-up after being benched against Stoke, while Matteo Darmian (hamstring) could be fit to return and Bastian Schweinsteiger is back from suspension.
Jesse Lingard (hamstring), Marcos Rojo (shoulder), Antonio Valencia (ankle) and Luke Shaw (leg) are out.
Manchester United (from): De Gea, Romero, Johnstone, Valdes, Darmian, Jones, McNair, Smalling, Varela, Blind, Carrick, Fellaini, Herrera, Mata, Pereira, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Young, Depay, Martial, Rooney.
Chelsea (from): Begovic, Blackman, Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Djilobodji, Ivanovic, Rahman, Terry, Zouma, Fabregas, Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Traore, Willian, Kenedy, Pedro, Falcao, Remy.
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