Chelsea vs Manchester United clashes used to decide titles but now it's 12th vs 6th with both mired in mediocrity despite Blues' £1billion splurge under Boehly and Reds' £1.67bn spend on players since 2014

There was a time when Chelsea vs Manchester United clashes around this time of year meant something.

In April 2006, Jose Mourinho's swaggering Blues crushed United 3-0 to make it back-to-back Premiership titles.

A year later and Sir Alex Ferguson's empire struck back with Chelsea forced to give a guard of honour to a makeshift United team featuring Fangzhou Dong, Chris Eagles and Kieran Lee.

In 2008, a nip and tuck title race was kept alive by Michael Ballack's double in a 2-1 Chelsea win at the Bridge, although United would ultimately prevail by two points - and then beat their rivals on penalties in the Champions League final.

2010 saw Didier Drogba's controversial strike - from an offside position - saw Chelsea win 2-1 at Old Trafford to leapfrog United into top spot and put another title within their grasp.

But whereas once these games decided title destinies and were eagerly-anticipated the world over, they are now pale imitations of the glory years.

Thursday night's game at Stamford Bridge may occupy the primetime slot, but it's a ultimately a meeting of 12th versus 6th in the Premier League.

Chelsea and United once represented the pinnacle of English and European football; now both clubs give the impression of being rudderless despite spending mind-blowing sums in their pursuit of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

At least both have such inadequacies it should make for an entertaining 90 minutes.

You only have to look at the goal difference column on the table to appreciate how this could be an open, end-to-end encounter.

Erik ten Hag's United are somehow still in contention for Champions League qualification despite their goals scored and goals against tallies being equal (40 in each).

Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea, who look resigned to another season of mid-table obscurity, aren't a lot better with 49 scored and 47 let in.

Both managers try and say the right things but appear to be living game-to-game rather than working towards a clear and obvious long-term goal.

Ten Hag is already pleading with new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe not to sack him this summer, insisting United are heading 'in a good way, a good direction' and should not 'interrupt this process.'

While an injury pile-up can be used as mitigation, the reality is United have looked entirely unconvincing in the majority of their games this season.

Ever since Wolves were able to drive a coach and horses through their midfield on the opening night, Ten Hag's side have looked embarrassingly vulnerable.

The wins that have come are typically the result of late smash and grabs having been under the cosh, the likes of Scott McTominay, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire finding goals to spare Ten Hag's blushes against modest opposition.

Sometimes, they don't even get away with it. Last Saturday, United couldn't even defend the lead given them by Mason Mount in the 97th minute as they drew at Brentford.

Brentford joined the lengthening list of opponents who really should have battered United this season, enjoying a ridiculous 85 touches in United's box and getting off 31 shots.

In what has been a long-standing theme, United have faced 81 shots on Andre Onana's goal during their three league games in March against Man City, Everton and the Bees.

Ten Hag has long since stopped pretending this isn't part of the game plan, trying to point out most opposition shots are 'low quality' and pose no danger.

But the ease with which any opponent can breach United is one of the biggest arguments against Ten Hag continuing in post next season because it surely isn't how he envisages the team playing.

Chelsea will be licking their lips. Not that there's any assurance Pochettino's men will take their chances.

Chelsea sit in the Premier League top three for big chances created per game but rank 14th for actually scoring these opportunities, putting away just 37.5 per cent of them.

Pochettino's side also don't run as much as they should, ranking 16th for average distance covered per 90.

That festering sore became a talking point after Saturday's hugely disappointing 2-2 draw with Burnley, who played with just 10 men from the 40th minute.

Pochettino, not exactly universally popular among the fanbase, demanded his players 'show more energy', 'compete more as a team', 'run more' and not be an 'exhibition team'.

Whether that stings his team into action remains to be seen. In Pochettino's defence, Chelsea do currently have 11 players out injured including important ones like Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku.

Opposition fans will respond with the world's smallest violin given Chelsea have famously spent over £1billion on new players since Todd Boehly and Clearlake bought the club in 2022.

The volume of signings means they should have plenty of squad depth but actual success stories within those can be counted on one hand.

Gusto has performed well and Cole Palmer, bought for an initial £40m from Man City, has been excellent to the point he will reportedly be offered improved terms on his £80,000-a-week deal.

His double against Burnley took him to 16 for his debut season, allied with 12 assists.

Not that United can claim to be paupers when it comes to outlay on signings. A study by the CIES Football Observatory last year said United have spent £1.67bn on new players since 2014.

That included £72m on Rasmus Hojlund, £55m on Mount and £47m on Onana last summer.

Like Chelsea, genuine positives this season have been thin on the ground. The emergence of Mainoo, the goals of Hojlund after a slow start, Alejandro Garnacho's wing play and the gradual improvement of Onana are about it.

But after such extreme spending, there's no question both should be performing better.

Even if they sometimes take points off them, title-chasing City, Liverpool and Arsenal often appear in a whole different stratosphere to United and Chelsea.

While the Opta Analyst supercomputer has Chelsea as marginal favourites on 38.7 per cent to United's 32.1 per cent, there are omens in the visitors' favour.

Chelsea are winless in the last 12 Premier League meetings, their longest-ever run without a league win over United.

The Reds also have more victories (80) and the highest win percentage (59.7 per cent) in the month of April than any other side in Premier League history.

But unlike in the glory years - and Chelsea also know this feeling - another April win on Thursday night won't be propelling them towards the title.