Premier League: United Flatten Chelsea and Qualify for the Champions League!

Manchester United played host to London side Chelsea FC in the penultimate match of the Premier League season earlier today at Old Trafford. United and manager Erik ten Hag knew they needed just one point from this match in order to finish in the top-4 and qualify for the Champions League next season. Contrarily, Chelsea and interim manager Frank Lampard came into the match with very little to play for. It has been an absolutely dismal season by their illustrious standards, as they find themselves in the bottom of half of the table and floundering in 12th place. Lampard fielded an exceptionally young side for this match, probably in an attempt to get some of the younger players experienced going into next year. Given that United have been nearly unbeatable at the Theatre of Dreams this season, most expected the Red Devils to get the result needed and seal the last available CL spot.

The first half was an odd one, but nevertheless overall positive for United. They got the first goal just 6 minutes in, thanks to a well-placed header from midfielder Casemiro. United won a free kick on the left wing, which was played into the box by fellow midfielder Christian Eriksen. No one was near Casemiro when he got his head to it, and after a quick VAR check for offside the goal was permitted to stand. Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga had no chance. It wasn’t a technically complicated goal, just poor marking by the Chelsea defense and a good quality ball over the top by Eriksen. Casemiro has now scored in consecutive matches, while also rediscovering some of his magnificent form in his role as a defensive midfielder from earlier in the season.

Chelsea dominated the next 30-35 minutes after that though. They created a litany of chances, but I have to sit back and laugh at their comically poor finishing during this period of the match. Several players missed gilt-edged chances, including winger Mykhailo Mudryk and striker Kai Havertz. Chelsea were doing extremely well to get the ball forward and at getting it into dangerous areas, but they really should have finished some of their chances. They were doing everything right in terms of opening up the United defense, but they couldn’t hit the back of the net to save their lives! This period of play was a microcosm of Chelsea’s awful season: good play in the build-up and chance creation, but atrocious finishing. There was another concern for United when winger Antony dos Santos went down injured after a fairly innocuous-looking challenge, and he was stretchered off and replaced by striker Marcus Rashford. Well wishes to Antony on a speedy recovery.

The Blues’ misery was further compounded however deep in first half stoppage time. Casemiro brought the ball forward and played a sensational no-look, chipped pass out to his right and into the feet of winger Jadon Sancho. Sancho was in a bit of space and looked like he might shoot, but he wisely played it across to the unmarked striker Anthony Martial who tapped in for 2-0 with Kepa stranded. An excellent passing move that was truly against the run of play! Well done to Casemiro and Martial, but special credit to Sancho for making the right decision. He has consistently had struggles with making the right decision at the right time this season, as he usually dawdles on the ball and the chance goes begging. This time though he got it exactly right! 2-0 United at half time, with Chelsea likely demoralized given their opportunities to score.

The second half was much more dominant from United. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes went close first, striking the angle of the crossbar/post after center back Victor Lindelof did well to win the ball high up the pitch. Chelsea were not strong on the ball, but they did well to keep United from scoring again for about 30 minutes or so. However, United did get the decisive 3rd goal on 73 minutes from the penalty spot. Bruno was dancing on the left side of the penalty box, and he beat Chelsea right back Wesley Fofana with a nutmeg. Fofana then stuck a leg out though and tripped Bruno, and of course Bruno went down as if he’d been shot. Referee Stuart Atwell pointed to the spot, and there wasn’t much complaining from the Chelsea players. Bruno stepped up and sent Kepa the wrong way with a low finish to his right. 3-0, and United were now confidently on their way to the top-4!

They weren’t finished however! Just 5 minutes later, Fofana played a ball across his own box that was wayward, and it allowed Bruno to pounce on the ball. He crossed it back towards Rashford in the center of the area, and his touch took it past the last Chelsea defender. Kepa did well to stick out his left leg and save the initial shot, but the rebound fell straight to Rashford. He took it around Kepa with ease and had a tap-in from about a yard out. 4-0! Utter domination in the second half and a thorough beat down of a (usually) competitive rival. A special shoutout to Rashford on scoring his 30th goal in all competitions this season! He is the first United player with a 30 goal season since Robin Van Persie exactly ten years ago.

Chelsea got a consolation goal on 89 minutes from forward João Félix after a fine run and finish which ruined keeper David De Gea’s clean sheet, but it was nothing more than a consolation. This was United’s day through and through. Realistically they could have have had 5 or 6 goals today. Substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho struck the crossbar late on, and substitute midfielder Scott McTominay had a close-range effort saved by Kepa in stoppage time. Atwell blew his whistle shortly after that and United were through to the Champions League next season!

United also moved into 3rd place for the time being, two points ahead of 4th placed Newcastle. There is still one match to play for all teams on Sunday, but the heavy lifting has now been done. 5th-placed Liverpool can no longer mathematically catch them, and the Scousers can look forward to spending their Thursday nights playing in the Europa League next season. It would be nice if United beat Fulham in their remaining match next Sunday to lock up 3rd place, but 3rd vs. 4th matters little in this context. Top-4 was the goal for ETH and the lads at the beginning of the season, and they’ve locked it up with a match to spare. The club can look forward to the revenue generated from these European matches, along with being more easily able to attract top-level talent in the summer. Given how this season started for United with consecutive losses, to be where we are is nothing short of a magnificent achievement for this manager and group of players.

United’s final match of the season is not until June 3rd when they play in the FA Cup Final against Manchester City at Wembley. Due to the importance of the fixture, it will be interesting to see how ETH manages the last Prem game on Sunday. Fulham have naught to play for similar to United, so will he rest all of his usual starters? Will he keep them out there to continue momentum? Either way, the match against City will be extraordinarily difficult. United and Inter Milan are the only two clubs standing between them and the Treble.

I will do a match report for Fulham and the FA Cup Final, and I think I will do another post about the prospective sale of the club early on in the close season. This season is already much, much better than the last one though. Thank you, Mr. Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff!

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Premier League: Manchester is RED!

Manchester United played host to cross-town rivals Manchester City earlier today at Old Trafford, in a tie that is referred to by many as the Manchester Derby. This matchup is always fiercely contested and full of drama, with today being no exception. United and manager Erik ten Hag were looking for a bit of vengeance after City shellacked them 6-3 earlier this season. City, led by manager Pep Guardiola and all-world striker Erling Haaland, were looking to gain ground on league leaders Arsenal. Given City’s budget and resources, they are expected to challenge for the title every season. They were of course second in the Prem going into the match, while United were level on points with Newcastle in 3rd. As usual, this was a very high-stakes match for both sides.

The opening 45 minutes were fairly open in terms of chances created, and although neither team recorded a goal in the first half, United looked more likely to score. Attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes saw his shot from a tight angle go just wide of City keeper Ederson’s far post on 10 minutes. Striker Marcus Rashford was also causing problems for City down the left hand side of the wing, and he was through on goal around the half hour mark only to see his shot smothered by the onrushing Ederson. There were several other decent-to-good chances created by United, only for the City defense to clear the ball at the last second. City’s closest effort of the half came just before via halftime when a swerving, long-range effort from right back Kyle Walker flew just wide of keeper David De Gea’s post. While United did well to keep City from registering a shot on target in the first half, there was some concern about them finishing their own chances.

City looked to take advantage of United’s lack of finishing in the early part of the second half. Guardiola’s men were growing into the game and finally establishing some possession. Substitute winger/forward Jack Grealish was brought on around 57 minutes, and he made an immediate impact with the opening goal of the game right on the hour mark. Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne took advantage of a gap in the defense and ran into the United penalty area. He reached the end line and squeezed an aerial cross in just before the ball went out. The United back line failed to pick up Grealish’s run towards the goal and he headed home the cross past De Gea from close range for 1-0. A good goal, but De Bruyne never should have been allowed to run into the box. You can’t let a dangerous player such as him get into that position, because he’ll either punish you himself or more likely he’ll find the perfect pass for a shooting chance. Poor defending, but City took advantage while United (up until that point) had not done so.

It wouldn’t be the Manchester Derby without a bit of controversy, and we got a more than generous portion of it on our plates when United equalized on 78 minutes via Bruno. United had responded well to going down by re-asserting themselves in the attacking third and establishing more possession, but this was their most dangerous move up to that point. The ball was played over the top of the defense by midfielder Casemiro towards Rashford. Rashford was in an offside position when the ball was played to him, but he cleverly did not touch the ball while running onto it. The City defense had largely stopped playing, assuming the linesman’s offside flag was going to go up. It did not however, and Rashford left the ball for Bruno who lifted it over Ederson and into the goal from about 20 yards out. A great finish from Bruno, but the offside flag had been raised once the ball went in. Bruno, Rashford, and roughly half the United team ran over to remonstrate with the linesman, and eventually referee Stuart Atwell went over and consulted with his linesman as well. After a discussion, the goal was awarded and United were level! More on this goal below.

City were clearly mentally shook by the goal, and the Red Devils smelled blood in the water. It took them only four minutes to get the second goal. United recovered the ball in their own half, with Bruno then playing a difficult reverse pass out to the left wing and into the feet of substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho. Garnacho ran forward and into the left side of the City penalty area. He attempted an aerial cross towards the goal, but it was blocked and bounced right back to him. He twisted around a bit and this time got in a lower cross with his left foot, which seemed to take the City defense by surprise. His low cross found Rashford in front of the goal, and he stabbed it home under Ederson from about 3 yards out. A big lapse in concentration from City’s center backs, there. Garnacho did well to lose his marker and get the cross in, but the marking from City was almost non-existent. Rashford is in the best form of his career right now, and he was never going to miss from there.

It was a tense final 12-13 minutes or so, but United held on and won 2-1! A huge, huge victory for us and a big message from ETH to the footballing world. His tactics and team selection were spot-on today, and he must be given all the credit in the world for the job he’s done in turning this club around. He has empowered his players to be at their best while still holding them accountable if they don’t play up to the standard he’s set for them. It’s insanely difficult to walk that fine line, but he’s done it masterfully. Fantastic matches from Bruno, Rashford, Casemiro, midfielder Fred, and center back Luke Shaw, but I also want to highlight the contributions of right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. His poor form and low confidence last season led many to believe his United career would soon be ending, but he played exceptionally well today and in the past few matches. He’s always been known to be a good tackler of the ball, but it was his attacking contributions today that need extra praise. His mazy run on 66 minutes where he went around three City players galvanized the team and the fans in the stadium! Can’t understate the importance of his play today.

As for the first goal, a close examination and reading of Law 11 must be done. Law 11, which is one of the Football Association’s Laws of the Game, dictates the rules surrounding offsides. I won’t write the whole law out because it’s long and boring, but the argument here centers on whether or not Rashford “interfered” with a City player’s ability to play the ball when he ran onto Casemiro’s pass. Replays showed he did not touch the ball, but he was running right behind it for about 3-4 yards before he left it for Bruno to finish. The eye test suggests that Rashford was “interfering” with the ball by being so close to it, but the letter of the law seems to clash with what most would consider to be “interference”. Rashford did not touch the ball, did not block off any defenders, nor did he impede Ederson from running out to make a save. City’s defense had largely stopped on their own because they thought offside would be called, which is an unprofessional move. In every sport, you play until the whistle! Had they made a better attempt to get to the ball, offside against Rashford probably would have been called. The argument could be made that the law needs to be re-written to address the subjectiveness of what is “interfering” and what isn’t, but there was no offside with how the rule is currently written. Lastly, had City played better over the course of the match and scored more than one goal, this alleged offside is a non-issue.

United are now in sole possession of 3rd in the Premier League table, just one point behind City in 2nd. Don’t look now, but United are also just 5 points back of league leaders Arsenal. For the first time in a long time, I can confidently say that United are in the title race! It’s only January so there’s a ways to go still, but I am more than happy with where the club is competitively right now. They just took on the best striker in the world in Haaland and didn’t let him have a single sniff of the goal. We are playing with a confidence and desire not seen since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson. After several seasons of inconsistency, I am finding joy in being a United supporter again.

The lads should celebrate tonight, but as of tomorrow the focus needs to be back. Next match is a trip to London on Wednesday for another Premier League clash with Crystal Palace. Three points are needed (and expected) due to having to play league leaders Arsenal away in the next match.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!