No worries for Manchester United. The Red Devils made short work of Chelsea (4-1) this Thursday, in a late match of the 32nd day of the Premier League. Success which allows them to definitively secure their place in the Top 4 in the English championship standings, synonymous with accession to the Champions League. United even points to third place, ahead of Newcastle.
The Mancunians were quick to make the difference in this meeting. From the 6th minute Casemiro put his partners on the right track with a headed goal following a free kick delivered by Christian Eriksen (1-0). However, the Chelsea players gradually began to take control of the game. Unfortunately for them, without managing to put the slightest opportunity to the bottom. The inefficiency of the Blues resurfaced in the image of Mudryk who opened his foot too much in the 4th minute on a good cross from Lewis Hall or a header again imprecise from Kai Havertz (32nd) on a new cross from the young side English left.
Jostled and dominated, however, it was the locals who crucified the Blues a few seconds before the break on a brilliant gesture from Casemiro who, with a dive pass, eliminated the entire Chelsea defense to find Jadon Sancho. The Englishman could have finished alone, but he saw Anthony Martial alone at the far post, better placed to score (45 6, 2-0). In the second half, there was only one team on the pitch, as if Lampard’s players were left stunned after taking a crushing blow before the break.
The second period was marked by a duel between two men. Bruno Fernandes on one side, Wesley Fofana on the other. Duel largely won by the Portuguese. The former Sporting eliminated his vis-à-vis a small fatal bridge which resulted in the fault of the French defender in the area (72nd). Fernandes was responsible for transforming, a minute later, the penalty he himself obtained by taking Kepa on the wrong foot (3-0, 72nd).
Rebelotte a few seconds later because even after the third goal, Manchester United did not stop playing. This time, it was a loss of the ball from Fofana that led Bruno Fernandes to recover the ball in the opposing area to offer Marcus Rashford his 30th goal of the season, in all competitions, the 17th in the Premier League (4-0 , 79th).
At the end of the game, João Félix, who had replaced Kai Havertz (63rd) earlier, reduced the gap to save his team’s honor (4-1, 89th), after a solo rush concluded at 16.50m with a cross shot that prevented David De Gea from completing an 18th clean sheet (4-1 final score).
Heading for the Cup now since it is a derby that awaits Erik ten Hag and his team in the final, against Manchester City, in ten days (June 3). It will be an opportunity to win a title this season, after the disappointment in the Europa League and the elimination against Sevilla FC in the quarter-finals. What’s more, facing the neighbor and Mancunian rival…