Manchester United beat Chelsea 4-1. Erik Ten Hag’s team thus qualifies for the group stage of the Champions League next season. Chelsea remains meaningless twelfth.
Manchester United waltzed over Chelsea. The Red Devils showed themselves hyper-efficient in the first half. Casemiro was the main man at the home team. The Brazilian midfielder headed a great free kick from Christian Eriksen against the ropes in minute 6. Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was transfixed. Casemiro was there again deep into the added time of the first half. With a beautiful and subtle no-look pass he split open the London defense, after which Sancho selflessly tapped the ball to Martial. 2-0 was the half-time score at Old Trafford.
Chelsea, however, was on point in terms of football in the first period. The double deficit at half-time was a heavy verdict. At the Blues the danger came mainly from the flanks. Left-back and young lad Lewis Hall came up well in minute 4 and served Mykhailo Mudryk at his beck and call. But that was without counting the Ukrainian. To everyone’s surprise, he couldn’t put his foot against the ball. Chelsea’s crosses continued to pose a threat. First Kai Havertz headed wide, then Conor Gallagher missed the chance to equalize. Face to face with David De Gea, the Briton cracked his shot and the ball went wide.
In the beginning of the second half it went back and forth constantly. And that led to opportunities. A few minutes after the break, United was there for the first time. After a stupid loss of the ball by the visitors, but good work by central defender Lindelöf, the ball came to Bruno Fernandes after a nice combination, who kicked hard at the intersection. The Portuguese outwitted Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa fifteen minutes before the end. He converted a light penalty. The team of interim coach Frank Lampard was visibly shaken and not much later received the 4-0. Marcus Rashford scored his seventeenth league goal of the season. His thirtieth in all competitions.
One minute before the end of regular playing time, substitute João Félix provided the honor saver. All in all, another game for Chelsea to forget. Manchester United needed a point to secure Champions League football, but spoiled their home fans once again. Even with a big lead, it was still looking for extra goals until the last minute, but the final score remained unchanged.
