Key Manchester United duo ruled out of Chelsea match

Jose Mourinho didn't get his wish. When asked whether he was hoping that Mancheter United stars Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie would miss Sunday's match at Stamford Bridge, here's what the manager said:

The best thing is to play against the best players, the concentration and motivation is bigger, so I hope they are there

-Source: BBC.

They will not be there. David Moyes has just confirmed in his press conference that Van Persie will only resume training next week, and he didn't even set a date on Rooney's return to the squad apart from ruling him out of the Chelsea game.

Mourinho's hopes for extra motivation aside, it's hard to paint this as anything but positive news for a Chelsea side hoping to keep pace with the leaders by snatching all three points on Sunday. Rooney and Van Persie are both game-changers for United, and them being absent will make life much easier. Of course, Moyes could just field Javier Hernandez instead. With the offside law apparently not applying when the Mexico international faces the Blues, he's a constant threat.

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