Gamblers try to bet with their heads rather than their hearts, but when it comes to Manchester United, the lines seem to blur slightly.
For the first time in 12 years, the Red Devils will start a home match as outsiders tonight when they take on top-of-the-table Chelsea. The Jockey Club is offering punters odds of 2.25 to 1 on a victory for the English Premier League champions and 2.8 to 1 on a Manchester United victory. The numerous illegal bookmakers will offer longer odds on the team who have won the league eight times since 1993.
Bookmakers in the UK are offering the longest odds for a United home game in bookmaking history.
A worker at the Jockey Club said the clash was attracting big interest.
'Manchester United have a long history here in Hong Kong, and people often bet to add a bit more excitement to watching the clash,' he said. 'But the serious money comes over the phone closer to the game.'
Punter and Manchester United fan Joe Chen Chi-yan, who was in the Jockey Club's Quarry Bay outlet to place $500 on a horse, said he would definitely throw a few dollars on Manchester United.
