United came unstuck against Arsenal at the Emirates last weekend to bring their title momentum to a grinding halt.
Chelsea arrive at Old Trafford on the back of five straight league wins that has eaten away at the Reds’ lead.
But United’s Portuguese winger says the Champions League double header in the quarter-final means Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are ahead mentally.
United disposed of Carlo Ancelotti’s side 3-1 on aggregate winning both at home and at Stamford Bridge in April.
And the Portuguese winger insists that memory will spur the Reds this Sunday.
“The results against them in the Champions League were very good. We showed we can play against them and win both legs. I think that gives us the psychological advantage going into this critical game,” said Nani.
“We were not at our best against Arsenal and we cannot be like that again in this one. We all realise we have to get back to our high tempo and confidence against Chelsea.
“We have to get back to our very best if we are going to do anything. Winning through to Wembley in the Champions League final has got us all back on a high and on track.
“The most important game now is Chelsea not Barcelona. Winning the Champions League would be another fantastic story for this club but we have to forget about it for the moment. It is always dangerous playing against Chelsea.
“They have some fantastic players. They are the team who every season are playing to win the league as well as us. They are always there challenging.
“We respect them but we have to be strong ourselves and just concentrate on what we do best and we can win it.
“It will be very difficult. But we are at home and we have had good experiences against them. We know if we want to win the game we have to play with confidence in this game.
“We just have to concentrate on our football and winning the game. If we do that then everything will be fine.
“If we win this one then it is a great advantage for us. It is nearly over then.
“We have a great chance. We are all together and that is vital.”
Do United have the pyschological advantage over Chelsea? Have your say.
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Oh no, not another player trying to play the pyschological game with opposing teams. They tried it against Arsenal and looked what happened; one of our worse performances.
Leave the talking to Sir Alex who is the master of these games.
I think we have a few more match winners than them. They still don't know who their best front players are? If Rio & Vid keep it tight I'm sure we'll score. We can do a lot of damage on the flanks so Nani could well end up the match winner. I'm quietly confident that we can win and sew up the title.
Its a big weekend and i feel our experience with our manager and senior players is the vital factor in the result of this game. I honestly cant see us losing this game our home form this season has got us into this position and I cant see anything but a United win.
Nani might not even start this game I see SAF sticking with Park and Valencia wide with Giggs and Carrick in the center Rooney and Hernandez up front and a back 4 of Rafael/Fabio Evra Rio Vidic
It would be nice to win this key game put some distance between ourselves and Chelsea and be able to use the squad in the remaining 2 matches and keep everybody fresh for the Final
It's not mind games,,, it's a FACT....
We proved that in the Champions League.... Chelsea need the ref to help them beat us at domestic level.,,,, FACT.
Chelsea has a more difficult run-in than United. They play away, home and away whereas United play home, away and home. Also Blackburn and Blackpool are (on paper) easier oppositions than Newcastle and Everton. Anyway if it's a draw on Sunday and Chelsea wins the 2 remaining games, still United can afford a draw against Blackburn and win their last match at Old Trafford to be champions.....The pressure is therefore on Chelsea.
I have got a good feeling about Sunday and think we will win. A lot has been made of how Chelsea have closed a huge gap on us over the last few months but honestly they have not played that well and they have had a huge helping hand from officials along the way. It was bad enough in our league game against them at the Bridge but their win against Spurs was a travesty. They don't deserve to be where they are and it's time to put them firmly in their place.
Our performances and results against them in the CL, combined with the fact we will be able to field a fresh team, count for a lot. I can't see Luiz getting away with the thuggish behaviour of the last time and if we play to our abilities, we will brush them aside comfortably.
Wonder how many times Nani fell over during this interview
I don't think Nani will make the starting line up of the Chelsea game or the Barca game. Park , Giggs, Valencia and Rooney are certs for the central 5 then it's one of Carrick, Scholes and Nani. He will be an impact sub in both games with Owen.
He still can't decide whether to pass or shoot. Or rather he can but it's the wrong decision each time. Last goal v City 12/2. Not good enough.
Think we can gat at least a point. Im not a fan of players or managers saying 'we are going to do this or that'. Sometimes it backfires. Lets play our usual way, and not how we did against Arsenal. 2-2, or 3-2 to Utd.
United will beat Chelsea 3.0 ,He will then play a good team against Blackburn and play the reserves against Blackpool Barcelona must be worried as no ref worth his salt will let them get away with all their cheating after all the world saw how bad they are.
Nani ...you have had a good season son but i feel you are one of the players who needs to be up for it on Sunday. Went into a shell last week a bit like the old Nani. So do the talking on the pitch son..we all know you can be a match winner on your day. L.U.H.C......
Tickets for the Champions League final will be split; General public: 11,000, Barcelona: 25,000, Manchester United: 25,000 & The football family' (UEFA, organising committee, national associations, commercial partners and broadcasters): 25,000. So basically, Manchester United will have 25,000 supporters and Barcelona will have 61,000 supporters at Wembley. United and Barca should be getting 34,000 each as that is what City/Stoke got but its not like that as UEFA wants as many Barca backers as possible in the ground, as if the ref and his linesmans aren't enough support for Barca on the field. Doesnt matter as Manchester United will beat Barca to once again rule Europe.
Manchester United will beat Chelsea this Sunday. We have a fair ref in Howard Webb and not the likes of Atkinson/Foy/Dean so United will easily win. We are simply better, we have the far superior squad and as proved in Europe, with a fair ref comes an easy United victory.
First the Premier League title than the Champions League, the Double is on.
Well, to lose is a possibility and whilst I hope - and believe - that the likelyhood is that we will not; it nevertheless could lead to an intriguing finish.
Chelsea winning by two goals - which I can't see - would be a disaster and would, to all intents and purpose, mean that United would have to hope that Chelsea dropped points in the remaining two games. But the more likely, if Chelsea were to win, would be by one goal, which would give Chelsea a two goal margin to play with but with United having scored four more goals (number of goals scored being the defining factor when goal difference is equal. [sorry, sure you know that].) So, unless Chelsea had some really bizzare results, United would need to improve by 2 goals the goal difference. If you believe, like Serdac Ymasrod, that United have the easiest run-in then you would be of the opinion that United would still have a good/very good chance of winning the title. This might well lead to the rare sight of United (or Chelsea) being 2 or 3 goals up and still going hell for leather till the final whistle.
All this brings me to one other point. United's next game, against Blackburn, is due for a Saturday morning kick-off, whilst Chelsea's, at home against Newcastle, is on Sunday afternoon. Now, taking this into consideration, should not the penultimate games of the season be seen in the same light as the final game of the season, where all the games are played at the same time so as to stop teams gaining an advantage in knowing the results of rivals? (Maybe, in fact, the fixtures have already been changed, though I can't find anything to say they have.)
But in the event that Chelsea do win, expect our venerable Sir to kick up an almighty fuss.
Yes, we beat them but that was in the CL don't forget the refrees did not let them play their usual way,which is to foul our guys at every opportunity and get away with it.I hope that does not happen,i don't trust these EPL refrees.
Keep focussed and keep the faith
UNITED for ever !
Would like to see Berba start, but I don't think he will. Hernandez is more of an impact player and yes he has been a revelation, but Berba holds the ball up well, has better first touch and can see a pass. Oh he can also score goals!
Re I am god
City and Stoke got 25,000 tickets not 34,000, please before you start screaming infamy, infamy theyve all got it imfamy please check your facts then you might at least you might sound as if you know something about about other clubs.
whoops forgot you are a red
Sportsmanship wins OK?