Midweek action in the Premier League as Manchester United took on Chelsea on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils came into the match after a 1-0 loss at Newcastle on Saturday night which came off the back of letting a two goal lead slip twice away to Galatasaray in the Champions League to draw 3-3 in the Turkish capital. Inconsistency has been the word of the season for the United with viewers unsure of which side will turn up on the day and especially in the busy month of December, United will have to put in high standard performances to meet their goals.
You could use inconsistency to describe Chelsea this season also with a wonderful performance (especially second half with 10 men) to hold on and defeat Brighton 3-2 at home. The Blues capitalising in their midweek absence from European football this season but they will be expecting to return there in some form this season. Despite their up and down Premier League campaign they are still fighting in the EFL Cup which can’t be said of tonight’s hosts.
Into the match then, and United started on the front foot and inside the opening 10 minutes there was a VAR check for a Manchester United penalty after Enzo Fernandez stood on Antony’s boot inside the area and after checking the monitor, Chris Kavanagh gave the spot kick to the home side. Somewhat expectedly, the stadium assumed Bruno Fernandes to step up and score but Robert Sanchez guessed the correct way and saved the penalty.
But this didn’t halt United’s progress as just 10 minutes later, Scott McTominay slotted home as a blocked shot from Harry Maguire fell towards the Scottish international in the box and he calmly slotted away on his left foot. This came off the back of some great build up by United with flowing movement in the attacking third, really attractive to watch.
And the Scotsman was unlucky not to score again as he found himself unmarked 6 yards out, on the end of a delicious ball from Fernandes, his downward header was straight at Robert Sanchez who produced a good save and the ricochet back to McTominay was saved again by the Spaniard.
Despite all the money Chelsea have spent in the last few years, they are somehow still lacking quality. A counter attack found Raheem Sterling running in on goal, he passes into Nicolas Jackson who opts to takes a touch from the pass instead of shouting first time and finds Andre Onana on his case to prevent any scoring chance.
But this was a sign of things to come as Chelsea grew into the match in the first half, and they were level on 45 minutes with a player who certainly isn’t lacking quality this season, former Manchester City attacker Cole Palmer who once again showed why he’s so crucial in a somewhat lacklustre Blues side. After a good ball played into him by Mudryk, he danced away from some challenges and executed a really difficult, delicate shot across him body into the far corner, perhaps Onana will be disappointed that he did not keep this one out right on the stroke of half time.
Going into half time, United would definitely have been the more disappointed side with so many chances and being in so much control for opening 45 minutes. Into the second half and not the most firey of starts compared to the first half for United and the first big chance came to Chelsea from a corner with Jackson just drifting away from Diogo Dalot at the far post but heads over from 4 yards out.
But on 69 minutes, it was 2-1 to the home side with Scott McTominay heading in from inside the 6 yard box, sent to him on a plate from Alejandro Garnacho, cutting in on the left side. The Scotsman once again proving why he is so valuable for the side with his goals from midfield. Chelsea (and especially Levi Colwill) were claiming for a foul by McTominay but nothing given, it would have been very soft.
For the remainder of the contest, Chelsea try to make an impact on the match but with all of their assets, no major impact. Armando Broja hitting the post from a close range header from a tight angle. This was after Garnacho’s finish trickled along the goal from Reguilon’s cross. And 2-1 was how it finished in Manchester with a big week coming up ahead to try and save their Champions League campaign on the final matchday against Bayern München.
For Chelsea it’s yet more disappointing from a side that really should be doing an awful lot better, especially with the amount of money spent on the side. The lack of passion for some of the players really sticks with me which makes me question, for a football player what more do you want?
For me, It was an honour to go to Old Trafford to watch a match for the first time and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Yes both of these sides aren’t as good as they once were but they put on a cracking contest and the best team won in the end.