OLE 'CANNOT WAIT' FOR CHELSEA SEMI-FINAL

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is excited by the prospect of facing Chelsea in the Emirates FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley, even if Frank Lampard's Blues are familiar opponents.

United booked a place in the last four of the competition with a 2-1 victory over Norwich City in extra-time, before Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City also secured away wins on Sunday. The draw took place at half-time in City's 2-0 success at Newcastle United and pitted us with Lampard's Londoners.

It is the fourth successive FA Cup campaign in which we have met the Stamford Bridge outfit.

“We’ve had lots of games at Wembley against them and, of course, we’ve had quite a few cup games against them in the last couple of seasons as well,” Ole told MUTV, ahead of Tuesday's Premier League clash at Brighton & Hove Albion.

“They’re a team that will know a lot about us and they’re a team we know a lot about too. We’re looking forward to being at Wembley, any team who you draw there would be a top team anyway. I can’t wait, it’s been a while.”

The Reds beat Chelsea 4-0 in our opening game of the Premier League season and have picked up two victories at Stamford Bridge since then, 2-1 in the Carabao Cup and 2-0 in the league in February.

This will be the 17th time the clubs have met in the FA Cup, with United winning nine times, Chelsea on five occasions and there have been two draws.

The 2-0 away triumph last year, thanks to goals from Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba, ended a run of three successive 1-0 defeats to the capital club in the competition.

Ole was asked if he was confident ahead of the fourth clash with the 2018 winners.

“Yes,” he replied. “Of course we are. One, we’ve played quite a few good games against them lately and we know that we’re competitive and have done really well against them and two, we have some really good momentum, we are building that and we’re in good form.

“The players are getting fitter and fitter and improving. The games are coming thick and fast and of course when you go to Wembley you know that a place in the final is at stake so we’re going to go for it.”

There is still the prospect of a first Manchester derby in the FA Cup final if United progress and Pep Guardiola's men get past Arsenal.