Jose Mourinho is likely to be far from Old Trafford on Saturday, but the former Chelsea manager will still cast a long shadow over his former club's showdown with Manchester United.
Mourinho's dramatic departure has hardly sunk in and already the London club have to regroup for a match they cannot afford to lose.
If Chelsea are beaten by Alex Ferguson's side and Arsenal defeat Derby on Saturday, the Blues will enter the post-Mourinho era five points behind the league leaders.
A trip to the Premier League champions would be a daunting start for any new manager, but the circumstances of Mourinho's departure and Avram Grant's promotion as his successor puts the Israeli coach firmly in the spotlight.
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Roman Abramovich's decision to appoint his friend has only added to the feeling that Mourinho's days were numbered from the moment Grant arrived as director of football in the close season.
So Grant has plenty to prove. The fans will wonder whether this anonymous 52-year-old has the ability to maintain Chelsea's position as one of the English's game pre-eminent forces.
But a bigger challenge could await the former Portsmouth director of football in the visitors' changing room at Old Trafford.
Several of Chelsea's players, with Didier Drogba among them, were in tears when Mourinho said his farewells at the club's training ground on Thursday morning.
Mourinho's charisma and proven track record inspired the likes of Drogba, John Terry and Frank Lampard to reach new heights and they are likely to wonder what Grant can add to their games.
One thing is certain, Ferguson will be determined to take advantage of Chelsea's moment of weakness.
While Chelsea face an uncertain future, their London rivals Arsenal are enjoying a surprising renaissance.
Arsene Wenger's side go into the home clash against Derby top of the table for the first time since November 2004.
The Gunners have won four of their first five league matches and built on that "feel good" factor by demolishing Seville in the Champions League.
After two years without silverware and the close-season departure of Thierry Henry, Arsenal were widely written off as also-rans this season.
But Wenger has infused his young side with confidence and, inspired by the brilliant form of Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas, they are currently playing the most eye-catching football in Europe.
With everything looking so easy, Arsenal must avoid falling prey to over-confidence.
Fixtures
Saturday (all 4pm unless stated):
Arsenal v Derby; Fulham v Manchester City (6.15pm); Liverpool v Birmingham; Middlesbrough v Sunderland; Reading v Wigan
Sunday:
Aston Villa v Everton (3pm); Blackburn v Portsmouth (4pm); Bolton v Tottenham (4pm); Manchester Utd v Chelsea (5pm); Newcastle v West Ham (2.30pm)
- This article was originally published on page 18 of Pretoria News on September 22, 2007
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