We questioned Erik ten Hag’s ability to lead Manchester United past the Champions League after Brighton triumphed at Old Trafford in August.
However, United’s triumph over Chelsea here proved that Ten Hag has really returned the team to the top echelon of European football. It was the last time United was defeated at home in a Premier League season, which closes at home against Fulham on Sunday.
That was his top objective when he transferred from Ajax to United last summer, and the team needed a point from these final two games to be certain of doing it.
Casemiro, who scored for the second game in a row and then created a moment of enchantment when Anthony Martial claimed the second, was primarily responsible for them succeeding the first time around.
But victory had a price. After colliding with Trevoh Chalobah and suffering a right ankle injury, Brazilian winger Antony was stretchered off in the 28th minute. He now faces a very real chance of missing the FA Cup final against Manchester City in eight days.
Despite the final result, if United continues to play this poorly at Wembley, things might get ugly. This would have been their eighth straight league clean sheet at Old Trafford but for a late consolation from Joao Felix. Their defence has been their rock all season. They have the fewest goals scored among the top six.
However, Chelsea was responsible for some terrible finishing, and City won’t be that understanding.
In a contest littered with errors, United also missed their fair share of opportunities. This wasn’t one of the spectacular matches that have taken place between these two clubs throughout the years.
Chelsea can’t wait for the miserable season to be over and Mauricio Pochettino to take over.
This set a new mark of 16 losses in a 38-game season, and they were already assured to place in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time in 27 years. Frank Lampard, the interim manager, has now lost eight of his last ten games.
Although Marcus Rashford was able to start again on the bench and sat there for less than 30 minutes before entering the game and scoring the fourth goal, Ten Hag picked an unchanged lineup.
The United manager stated in his programme notes, “I hope you are all ready to use your voices this evening because, as we welcome Frank Lampard and Chelsea to Old Trafford, we must all be fired up.”
Lampard, meanwhile, faced a significantly tougher challenge rousing his troops after Sunday’s visit across town to Manchester City brought his seventh defeat in nine games in all competitions since taking over as interim manager last month.
Raheem Sterling and Thiago Silva were given a break, and Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke were added to Chelsea’s 23 years and 238 day-old starting lineup in the Premier League.
“This situation is challenging, but you have to have pride to play against a really good team in a fantastic football venue.” Lampard bemoaned, “Some days I wish I could still do that,” prior to the game’s start.
When United took the lead in the sixth minute, Lampard would have likely done a better job of marking than his teammates, even if he were still a month away from turning 45.
Casemiro was able to easily cross the impermeable blue line after Christian Eriksen delivered a fantastic free kick from the left, walking through Wesley Fofana and Kai Havertz to nod past Kepa Arrizabalaga from close range.
Although it wasn’t as impressive as the overhead kick that sealed the victory at Bournemouth on Saturday, it was just as efficient. Of course, VAR gave it a thorough examination, but the Brazilian was unmistakably in favour.
It appeared typical of their gloom to Chelsea. It was clear at the other end of the pitch when Conor Gallagher was given a clear opportunity in front of goal by Havertz, but he inexplicably overhit the pass, and again when Mykhailo Mudryk utterly squandered both opportunities.
When United broke shortly after, Antony was able to find Anthony Martial in a similar circumstance, but the Frenchman’s lack of initiative allowed Cesar Azpilicueta to get back and make a goal-saving challenge, as Bruno Fernandes didn’t hesitate to remind Martial.
If Chelsea hadn’t proceeded to waste shots in front of goal before halftime, United would have been penalised.
Lewis Hall’s cross was missed by Havertz’s header in front of goal, then Gallagher was put in but his effort missed the far post after being set up by Enzo Fernandez.
In the fifth of the six minutes that were tacked on due to Antony’s injury, United capitalised on the respite. Again, Casemiro played a key role in the victory by slipping a beautiful pass to Jadon Sancho over the top of the Chelsea defence. With Martial this time alert to Azpilicueta’s position, he controlled the ball and slipped it to the back post where he scored into an empty net.
When Stuart Attwell blew for halftime, Lampard’s face told it all. Chelsea was going into the break two down despite giving everything they had.
In the second half, chances kept missing. Within two minutes of the restart, Fernandes hit the crossbar from 15 yards, and Eriksen just missed getting the ball over the goal line from a few inches out.
After being hauled down by a clumsy challenge by Fofana in the 73rd minute, Fernandes eventually scored the third from the penalty spot. Rashford scored the fourth goal with a tap-in before Felix, a late substitute, responded.
On Sunday against Newcastle at home, Chelsea’s woes will come to an end. With this victory, United moves up to third place, ahead of Eddie Howe’s team. However, it would be surprising if Ten Hag played against Fulham at full strength, risking further injuries for the Cup Final. Now, just one game is important.