Chelsea's Liam Rosenior dismisses any advantage from Manchester United's defensive suspensions, stressing his team's focus on ruthlessness and clinical finishing.
Manchester United’s return to competitive action on Monday night ended in disappointment, with Leeds United claiming a 2–1 victory at Old Trafford.
After a 24-day break, Michael Carrick’s side came into the game looking to strengthen their push for Champions League football, but the result means they now sit level on points with Aston Villa in third and fourth place.
Next on the agenda is a trip to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening to face Chelsea, who are also chasing a top-four finish. Liam Rosenior’s men head into the clash in poor form, having lost four of their previous five league matches.
Should United respond with a win, they would open up a ten-point gap to sixth-placed Chelsea and take a significant step towards securing Champions League qualification for next season.
Rosnior beats down impact of Maguire's suspension
Harry Maguire served a one-match ban during United's fixture against Leeds after the centre-back was sent off for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity against Bournemouth last month.
However, it was announced on Wednesday that the United defender would serve an additional one-game ban after being charged with improper conduct for his reaction to the red card, meaning he will miss the tie against Chelsea this weekend.
With Lisandro Martínez also expected to miss the fixture after picking up a red card against Leeds, United are expected to be without either of their first-choice centre-back pairing at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea boss Rosenior held his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon and was asked whether this gives his side an advantage – an assumption he quickly dismissed.
"No," the 41-year-old replied. "I don't talk about individuals of other teams. We have a way that we play. In terms of chance creation, we're actually still very good. We're still very good in terms of chance creation.
"We just haven't taken those moments, like I've just said in the previous question. We need to be more clinical.
"We need to be more ruthless in both boxes and not give up chances from our own doing. And if you do that, you give yourself a chance to win a game of football."
When pressed further on whether he would accept that United's suspensions make them a weaker side, he had the same staunch reply. "No, that's not for me to speak," Rosenior said, remaining adamant.
"I don't speak about other teams. I have respect for other teams. We all work in exactly the same way and the same process that we do for every team we play."
United's free fixtures help with coaching, says Rosenior
Further, the Chelsea manager was asked about the amount of free time United have had since Carrick arrived.
With the side only being in Premier League competition, having been knocked out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup prior to the Englishman's arrival and not qualifying for European competition at all, there has been plenty of time to play.
With Chelsea also no longer in European competition, Rosenior was asked if the free weeks are an advantage for both sets of sides with respect to competing for Champions League spots.
"No, I think you try to build your squad the best you can to challenge for the competitions you're in," he replied. "Obviously, having clear weeks to work with your team as a coach, it makes things easier to get your point of view across, to get your process across, to get your rest period.
"But no, I don't want to talk about any excuses or anything that could be seen as the upper hand. We need to win this game, and we need to play on the front foot with energy. And if we do that, we'll give ourselves a really good chance to win the game."