The Red Devils head to Stamford Bridge tomorrow looking to avenge last season’s final defeat by claiming a spot in the quarters.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his squad assembled at their Carrington training ground to finalise the final part of their plan for capital glory before heading south.
But the Norwegian will have to overcome a miserable recent record against their rivals in order to progress.
Chelsea, who defeated United 2-1 at Wembley last May to lift the trophy, have not been knocked out of a domestic cup by the Red Devils since 2002.
They could become the first team to eliminate United in five consecutive FA Cup ties, with this their fifth meeting in six years taking replays in to account.
And the Red Devils’ record at the Bridge makes for grim reading.
They have triumphed just twice in their last 22 games there, failing to win any of their last nine.
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Of course, United did defeat the Blues to win the Champions League in 2008 on penalties, any they will be hoping to call on some of that spirit from Moscow in London this time around to end their Chelsea cup curse on English soil.
However, Solskjaer will be forced to shuffle his pack after key men Martial (groin) and Lingard (hamstring) hobbled off in this week’s Euro defeat to PSG.
Full-backs Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian both remain sidelined, but that could mean some match action for Marcos Rojo and teenagers Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes.
And the caretaker United boss, who won the competition as a player with the club twice, will be looking for his hotshot Marcus Rashford to get back on the goaltrail.
The 21-year-old has bagged six times since Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho in December and could add to that tally if given the nod in West London.
CHELSEA vs MAN UTD – BIG MATCH FACTS
- Chelsea are aiming to become the first club ever to knock out Man United in five consecutive FA Cup ties
- The Red Devils have failed to win in their last nine visits to Stamford Bridge, tasting success just twice out of the last 22 trips there
- This is the 64th time the Blues have faced United since the start of the 1997/98 campaign, making it the most-played fixture between English clubs in the last 22 years
- It's their fifth FA Cup clash in six years (including replays), with Chelsea winning the last three
- Chelsea are looking to record their fifth successive clean sheet in the FA Cup
- United have dumped the holders out of the cup an unmatched ten times – the last coming in 2012 against Man City
- The Old Trafford side are looking to go all the way in the competition and match Arsenal's record of 13 FA Cup trophies
- United's ex-Chelsea striker has found the net 13 times in his last 15 FA Cup matches
Alternatively he could deploy Romelu Lukaku against his old club.
And the Belgian absolutely loves the cup, banging in 13 in his last 15 appearances in it.
But he faces a tough test, with his opponents looking to keep a fifth successive clean sheet in the competition.
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