Geremi: I enjoyed facing United at Chelsea
Manchester United open the 2019/20 Premier League campaign on Sunday against rivals Chelsea at Old Trafford.
Ahead of the 16:30 BST kick-off, our official match programme United Review caught up with former Blues midfielder Geremi to gain an insight into the opposition.
A two-time title winner with Chelsea, the ex-Cameroon international came up against the Reds on five occasions during his four years in west London and thrived on doing battle with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side...
“The fixture was massive because we were competing against each other for the league title each season, along with Arsenal,” Geremi said in the exclusive interview with our official matchday programme.
“As a player, you are always excited to come up against the very best teams, which United were undoubtedly. They were always ready for the battle.”
‘FRANK IS EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT’
Geremi is also confident that his old team-mate Frank Lampard can be a real success at Stamford Bridge, after the Blues' all-time leading goalscorer was named as Maurizio Sarri's successor as manager over the summer.
“I’m delighted for Frank to have been given this wonderful opportunity,” he told United Review.
“He’s an extremely intelligent individual. He used to show how well he understood the game as a player with his passing and movement.
“I think he will be able to transfer this good decision-making into his managerial career.”
Read the full interview with Geremi and much more in today’s edition of United Review, which you can buy at Old Trafford or order online now.
"We have Kante fit, but if he's match fit is a question I will have to decide right up until the end," Lampard said in his pre-match press conference.
"Everyone else is pretty much fit. We have the ones we know are outstanding. Willian is working to be fit and it’s probably come slightly too soon for him. Possibly Rudiger the same, but he has been training with us for a few days now. That’s for me to gauge over the next 24, 48 hours until Sunday.
"I know the squad we have got, I pretty much know where we are going. We have trained well, so we’re there."
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A WORD FROM ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN
"We are going into the Premier League with a good feeling. We want to be where we have to be. We are going to be ready. Pre-season is always hard. We have had some difficult games and this was a good test for us.
"It’s going to be very difficult on Sunday. We still need a bit more but we have a week to prepare. It’s going to be very tough, especially away, but I am sure we will be ready."