Grant unveils first Chelsea team
Chelsea began life without Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford with Mikel John Obi among three changes made by new boss Avram Grant for the clash with Manchester United.
Mikel was sold to Chelsea by United for £12m despite never playing a game for the Red Devils amid a protracted row over his future. But the Nigerian’s inclusion is strictly a footnote to a historic game following Mourinho’s Stamford Bridge exit.
Paulo Ferreira and Tal Ben Haim are also recalled to a Chelsea side containing Andriy Shevchenko, who has seemingly found himself one of the reasons for friction between Mourinho and owner Roman Abramovich.
In his programme notes, Alex Ferguson declared he was not surprised at Mourinho’s exit, and he has gone for the jugular, pairing Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney together in attack for the first time.
Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Tevez, Rooney.
Kuszczak, Saha, Nani, Pique, O’Shea.
Cech, Ferreira, Ben-Haim, Terry, Ashley Cole, Makelele, Essien, Obi, Joe Cole, Shevchenko, Malouda.
Cudicini, Pizarro, Kalou, Wright-Phillips, Alex.
Mike Dean (Wirral)
