CAUTIOUS efficiency or carefree fluency? It should be a no-brainer for Alan Shearer.
The former England captain made his reputation as a prolific goalscorer and all-round champion of attacking football.
So it is only natural to assume he would be backing Manchester United in this afternoons Premier League decider at Chelsea.
Yet Shearer, who pocketed just one title winners medal during all his years in the game, insists beautiful football counts for nothing without a trophy to show for it.
He insisted: United and Chelsea have two very different styles and there is no right or wrong way. The best team will be the one which wins the League.
Chelsea can grind out results without being as attractive as United but, if they win a trophy in the next few weeks, they will still have had an incredible season.
The first job of any team is to win
It makes me laugh when people say they want entertaining football first and then winning football. The first job for any team is always to win.Manchester United have always relied on individual flair players to achieve their targets and well see who Chelsea sign in the summer before we know if theyre going down that route.
When youve spent as much money as Roman Abramovich has, you have the right to do anything you want.
Hell call the shots and hell decide whether Chelsea have a new manager, new players or a new ground.
But he will want to get something back for all that money.
It was always going to be tough for Avram Grant to follow Jose Mourinho because they really are like chalk and cheese as characters.
Avram is quite reserved and doesnt give a lot away.
But I think hes done a good job and all those people criticising him could end up with egg on their faces.
I dont think theyll win the title this season but they could easily win the Champions League next month. And thats the one Mourinho desperately wanted above everything.
Yet Shearer believes United have the momentum going into todays game and cannot see them slipping up now.
He added: Chelsea have to win, its as simple as that. They cant afford to rest anyone because even a draw would effectively hand United the title.
In fact, United could even afford to lose at Stamford Bridge because they are more than capable of beating West Ham at home and Wigan away in their last two games and finishing top on goal difference. But Alex Ferguson wont want to leave it that late. Hell want the title wrapped up against Chelsea so he can concentrate on the Champions League.
Shearer is convinced todays game will not be the last time these teams meet this season and believes they are destined to renew hostilities in next months Champions League final in Moscow.
The former Newcastle hero said: The timing of this game right in the middle of two huge European semi-finals is just incredible. I have to fancy United in a one-off game against Barcelona back at Old Trafford and, if I was a betting man, Id also back Chelsea to beat Liverpool in their second leg.
Not many teams have been able to keep Uniteds attackers quiet for 90 minutes.
Barcelona managed it the other night but I dont think theyll do it again in front of Uniteds fans on Tuesday.
Some of Uniteds attacking football has been brilliant to watch.
But people shouldnt overlook the contribution of Uniteds defence. Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have been exceptional this season.
CAUTIOUS efficiency or carefree fluency? It should be a no-brainer for Alan Shearer.
The former England captain made his reputation as a prolific goalscorer and all-round champion of attacking football.
So it is only natural to assume he would be backing Manchester United in this afternoons Premier League decider at Chelsea.
Yet Shearer, who pocketed just one title winners medal during all his years in the game, insists beautiful football counts for nothing without a trophy to show for it.
He insisted: United and Chelsea have two very different styles and there is no right or wrong way. The best team will be the one which wins the League.
Chelsea can grind out results without being as attractive as United but, if they win a trophy in the next few weeks, they will still have had an incredible season.
The first job of any team is to win
It makes me laugh when people say they want entertaining football first and then winning football. The first job for any team is always to win.Manchester United have always relied on individual flair players to achieve their targets and well see who Chelsea sign in the summer before we know if theyre going down that route.
When youve spent as much money as Roman Abramovich has, you have the right to do anything you want.
Hell call the shots and hell decide whether Chelsea have a new manager, new players or a new ground.
But he will want to get something back for all that money.
It was always going to be tough for Avram Grant to follow Jose Mourinho because they really are like chalk and cheese as characters.
Avram is quite reserved and doesnt give a lot away.
But I think hes done a good job and all those people criticising him could end up with egg on their faces.
I dont think theyll win the title this season but they could easily win the Champions League next month. And thats the one Mourinho desperately wanted above everything.
Yet Shearer believes United have the momentum going into todays game and cannot see them slipping up now.
He added: Chelsea have to win, its as simple as that. They cant afford to rest anyone because even a draw would effectively hand United the title.
In fact, United could even afford to lose at Stamford Bridge because they are more than capable of beating West Ham at home and Wigan away in their last two games and finishing top on goal difference. But Alex Ferguson wont want to leave it that late. Hell want the title wrapped up against Chelsea so he can concentrate on the Champions League.
Shearer is convinced todays game will not be the last time these teams meet this season and believes they are destined to renew hostilities in next months Champions League final in Moscow.
The former Newcastle hero said: The timing of this game right in the middle of two huge European semi-finals is just incredible. I have to fancy United in a one-off game against Barcelona back at Old Trafford and, if I was a betting man, Id also back Chelsea to beat Liverpool in their second leg.
Not many teams have been able to keep Uniteds attackers quiet for 90 minutes.
Barcelona managed it the other night but I dont think theyll do it again in front of Uniteds fans on Tuesday.
Some of Uniteds attacking football has been brilliant to watch.
But people shouldnt overlook the contribution of Uniteds defence. Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have been exceptional this season.