Match Review : Chelsea vs Manchester United
So we return to Stamford bridge home of the Chelsea and Manager Frank Lampard who himself is under pressure due to a run of bad results. Ole making 3 changes seeing the return of Eric Bailly after a 10-month injury partner captain Harry Maguire. Luke shaw came in to replace Phil jones (and looked reasonable all game). Matic returned to a 3 man midfield with Fred and Bruno. Ighalo had to wait for his debut Ole choosing to leave him on the bench.
The game started in the usual fast and furious way with Chelsea failing early on with Batshuyi failing to hit the target. Chelsea had a lot of the ball but failed to do anything with it
Ten minutes in Kante off Mount on
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter the Kante injury, the midfield battle became a little easier but still, Chelsea hustled and had the majority of possession.
on the 20 minute mark, we had our last VAR decision of the night when Batshuyi and Maguire came together and I looked as if Harry had Kicked out at Batshuayi.
Decision NO RED CARD
Until, well Antony Martial accidentally elbowed Christensen ( it was the best thing he did till this point ). Christenson wasn’t even on the pitch when Wan-Bissaka turned Willian’s blood to deliver an inch-perfect cross for Anthony Martial to easily header it into the bottom left. This was against the run of play as Chelsea had enjoyed most of the possession.
0-1 (45 Minutes) Anthony Martial
Chelsea had one more clear chance in the first half but again Batshuayi squandered the ball through putting it wide.
HALF TIME Chelsea 0-Manchester united 1
The performance of Eric Bailly and Shaw in Cb roles in the first half was class. Bruno Fernandes’s movement and positioning bringing intelligence into the midfield (even making Matic look better)
United came out on fire in the second half with Chelsea just happy to keep the ball at times.
Kurt Zouma a half sub for Christensen did manage to put the ball in the United goal Only for VAR to disallow it for a push on Williams in the lead up to the corner. Chelsea fans where livid.
Embed from Getty ImagesIT WAS ABOUT TO GET A LOT WORSE… Bruno hit the post with a missile of a freekick !!!!!!!!!!!
Not 10 minutes later the man who many in the ground (Chelsea supporters) thought shouldn’t be on the pitch after his exchange with Batshuayi in the first half Harry ‘SLABHEAD’ Maguire grabbed his first premier league goal for United meeting a perfect cross from Bruno Fernandes to header past Cabellero…
0-2 (66 minutes) Harry Maguire
Embed from Getty ImagesBatshuyi off Giroud on (68 min)
Chelsea still hustled and harried (haha) with Eric Bailly denying Kovacic in the box and Brandon Williams earning a yellow card in 76 minutes earning Willian winning a freekick…
Willian whipped the freekick in for Giroud to put it past David De Gea ……………… 1-2 (77 Minutes) Olivier Giroud
VAR Decision: NO GOAL OFFSIDE(Giroud)…..
80 Minutes Pereira on James off
Chelsea and Manchester traded blow in the last 10 minutes but without much joy blocked shot and fouls breaking up play … the lack of a world-class striker on either side has shown tonight
90minutes Anthony Martial off Odion Ighalo on
91 minutes Bruno Fernandes off Diego Dalot on
a flurry at the end had Fred send Ighalo through in the box only for Caballero to cover well … what a start that would have been for him
Full-Time Chelsea 0 Manchester United 2
Not a great performance but the job was done 3 points some positives. Bruno is class movement positioning awareness everything, Williams is our best LWB ( shaw did look good as part of a back 3 ) and Matic can do a job in that team ( but McSauce is better ).
