The dynasty will only be built on European success, though, and after the quarter-final exit to Liverpool, Manchester City's owners, who want a gilded continental powerhouse to match United's global lustre, will demand it and back those demands with huge funding.
Top-class goals from Bernardo Silva and Sergio Aguero took Manchester City back to the top of the Premier League in a 2-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
The defeat foiled Chelsea's bid for the league-Cup double.
Chelsea brushed aside London rivals West Ham United with a 2-1 away win that restored their 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League on Monday.
A clinical second-half display earned Arsenal a 3-0 win at Swansea City on Saturday and proved they are ready to mount a sustained Premier League title challenge.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wants to build a legacy at the club that will last 100 years.
'Jose Mourinho has been charged with misconduct in relation to his language and/or behaviour towards the match officials in or around the dressing room area at halftime'
Of all the managerial dilemmas facing Manchester United's Jose Mourinho after three success defeats, the future of his captain Wayne Rooney is by far the most pressing. The England captain, deployed in a central midfield role this season, has been a peripheral figure in a team struggling to gel and his lacklustre performance in the 3-1 defeat at Watford on Sunday led to widespread calls for him to be dropped. Rooney mustered one shot, did not play a single through ball and created only two chances for team mates with the nine corners and free kicks he took.
Manchester United fought back to beat an unfortunate Wigan Athletic 2-1 thanks to a stoppage time own goal by Pascal Chimbonda.
Lampard won the award ahead of Chelsea captain John Terry and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.
Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand announced his retirement from football on Saturday after being released by Queens Park Rangers.
Aston Villa will try to become the first side to score against Chelsea this season when they visit the champions on Saturday.
"I have to be honest with myself so I have to appeal," he told a news conference on Friday, a day after calling the punishment "an absolute disgrace".
European clubs are anticipating another windfall after changes to the Champions League and say the new system will be fairer as well as making them richer. The European Clubs Association (ECA) said it expected revenue from the Champions League and Europa League to jump from 2.35 billion euros ($2.62 billion) per season to around 3 billion euros from 2018-19, when the changes, announced by UEFA last month, come into force. ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge also ruled out talk of a breakaway Super League in the foreseeable future, saying the clubs wanted to remain united.
Blackburn Rovers registered a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in the League Cup semi-final, first-leg clash.
Lilian Laslandes struck twice to help in-form Girodins Bordeaux beat Nantes 3-1 and reach the quarter-finals of the French League Cup.
Chelsea have left the door open for John Terry to stay at Stamford Bridge after the central defender announced that he is leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season. The Premier League champions said he could be offered the chance to stay at Stamford Bridge following a meeting with the club last month. "In that meeting he asked about the possibility of an extension to his existing contract," Chelsea said in a statement. "John was advised that while no new deal was currently on the table, that situation could change in the coming months." Chelsea said they had the utmost respect for Terry and everything he has helped them achieve, describing him as a "fantastic servant and superb captain".
Police in riot gear struggled to contain West Ham fans at the end of the third round match at Stamford Bridge, which Chelsea won 1-0.
England centre back Gary Cahill is so frustrated by a lack of first-team football at Chelsea that he wants to leave the club in an attempt to safeguard his international place at the European Championship in the summer.
Nantes knocked Gerard Houllier's side out on penalties in the second round of the French League Cup.
They were charged following crowd trouble during their League Cup tie at Stamford Bridge.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Chelsea, who won the League Cup in February, have 88 points and cannot be caught by 2004 champions Arsenal.
Manchester City set a new top-flight record of 15 consecutive wins as their seemingly unstoppable march towards the English Premier League title continued with a 4-0 romp at bottom club Swansea City.
FC Pune City also bolstered their defence by signing former Espanyol and Deportivo La Coruna defender Diego Colotto for the second edition of the eight-team league beginning on October 3.
Jose Mourinho accused Alex Ferguson of trying to influence referee Neale Barry at halftime in the 0-0 Stamford Bridge draw on January 12
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