Manchester United vs Chelsea: Pair have shared 26 trophies since Roman Abramovich’s takeover in 2003 — but who has more major honours in last 14 years?
CHELSEA may have a while to go to have the glorious history of Manchester United.
But, in the Roman Abramovich era, the pair are level in terms of trophies won.
Since the Russian overtook the club in 2003, Chelsea and United have both won 13 major honours apiece.
It is an incredible turnaround for a side which had won just eight major trophies in the 98 years before Abramovich’s takeover.
Here is a tale of the tape — not including Community Shields.
2003-04
Chelsea spent big, signing Premier League big guns such as Damien Duff and Joe Cole as well as European heavyweights, Hernan Crespo and Claude Makelele.
While United sold David Beckham to Real Madrid and replace him with an 18-year-old Portuguese kid called Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Blues finished trophyless but above the FA Cup winning-Red Devils in league.
Manchester United 1 Chelsea 0
2004-05
Champions League-winning manager, Jose Mourinho, came and revolutionised Chelsea — bringing with him Didier Drogba and many of his Porto side.
They won a record 29 games, notched up a record 95 points, conceded a record low of 15 goals and lost just one as they clinched the Premier League, having already won the League Cup.
United finished third for a second season running, despite having signed England’s boy wonder, Wayne Rooney in the summer.
Manchester United 1 Chelsea 2
2005-06
The Blues strengthened with midfield stalwart, Michael Essien, and won their first nine Premier League games en route to a second consecutive title.
Their first defeat did come against United, who finished the campaign in an improved second and won only the second League Cup in their history.
Perhaps a sign Chelsea’s dominance was under threat.
Manchester United 2 Chelsea 3
2006-07
United lost Ruud van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid and only brought in Michael Carrick, while Chelsea broke the British transfer record to sign Andriy Shevchenko and signed Michael Ballack on a free transfer.
But it was United who eventually pipped the Blues to the title after an enthralling race.
Chelsea and Mourinho consoled themselves with a League Cup and FA Cup double — beating United in the final of the latter.
Manchester United 3 Chelsea 5
2007-08
United went for it in the summer of 2007, signing Nani, Anderson, Owen Hargreaves and Carlos Tevez — while Chelsea’s only major incoming was Florent Malouda.
A slow start saw Mourinho astonishingly shown the door and replaced by Avram Grant.
The pair could argue to be the best teams in Europe as the title race went to the final day of the season — with United coming out on top.
And they met again in the Champions League final, with John Terry and Nicolas Anelka missing from the spot in a shoot-out to give Sir Alex Ferguson a second success.
Manchester United 5 Chelsea 5
2008-09
Chelsea named Luiz Felipe Scolari as manager and signed Deco and Jose Bosingwa, while United brought in Dimitar Berbatov.
It turned out to be a disastrous campaign for the Blues who sacked the Brazilian in January and hired Guus Hiddink.
Chelsea finished third, but clinched the FA Cup as United won a league title tussle with Liverpool as well as the League Cup.
And, as Champions League holders, claimed the Fifa Club World Cup with victory in Japan.
Manchester United 8 Chelsea 6
2009-10
Serial-winner Carlo Ancelotti arrived in 2009 for Chelsea as United were undergoing a transitional summer, having lost Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.
The Blues won a first-ever Premier League and FA Cup double.
While United won the League Cup again — the first cup trophy they had EVER successfully defended.
Manchester United 9 Chelsea 8
2010-11
Again, United failed to seriously strengthen, while Chelsea brought in Ramires.
And the broke the British transfer record to sign Fernando Torres for £50million in January.
United finished first in the title race and knocked the Blues out of the Champions League as Ancelotti was given the boot.
Manchester United 10 Chelsea 8
2011-12
A disastrous league campaign saw the Blues finish sixth — below Newcastle — and summer arrival, Andre Villas-Boas given the boot.
United went for youth in the summer and would lose the title in the final minutes of the season to city rivals, Manchester City.
Roberto Di Matteo came in and oversaw a historic season for Blues, winning the FA Cup and a first-ever Champions League success.
Manchester United 10 Chelsea 10
2012-13
Another shocking start to the season for Chelsea saw them become the first defending champions to be eliminated from the Champions League group stage — and Di Matteo was sacked.
Rafa Benitez came in and steered the club to a historic first Europa League success.
United won back the league from City and Ferguson called rode off into the sunset — retiring from football after 27 years with the club.
Manchester United 11 Chelsea 11
2013-14
David Moyes had the unenviable task of replacing Fergie, and it went as horribly as people imagined — he was sacked before the end of the season.
Mourinho back and led Chelsea to third, winning all four matches against City and Liverpool, who finished above them.
A first season in the Abramovich era where both failed to add silverware.
Manchester United 11 Chelsea 11
2014-15
Mourinho was well and truly back — leading Chelsea to a Premier League and League Cup double.
Louis van Gaal had replaced Moyes in the Old Trafford dug-out and improved on the previous season’s seventh place finish by leading the club back to the Champions League.
However, there would be no trophy for the Dutchman in his first season in England.
Manchester United 11 Chelsea 13
2015-16
An incredible turnaround in fortunes saw Chelsea battling RELEGATION and Mourinho shown the door by December.
At about the same time, United went on a dismal run and fell from first place to outside the Champions League places.
Chelsea finished tenth, while Van Gaal clung to his job and led the club to fifth — before winning the FA Cup.
Manchester United 12 Chelsea 13
2016-17
Mourinho is now in the red corner — but hasn’t lost his winning touch.
United won the League Cup after beating Southampton 3-2 in an enthralling final, and they could also add the Europa League at the end of the season.
Chelsea are four points clear of Tottenham at the top of the table with a game in hand under Antonio Conte.
Manchester United 13 Chelsea 13