United confirm top four spot

Manchester United hammered Chelsea at Old Trafford this evening to ensure a top four finish and, as a result UEFA Champions League qualification in Erik ten Hag’s first season. 

LINEUPS

MUN XI: de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw; Fernandes*, Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Martial, Sancho

MUN SUBS: Butland, Maguire, Dalot, Malacia, McTominay, Fred, Garnacho, Rashford, Weghorst

CHE XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta*, Fofana, Chalobah, Hall; Chukwuemeka, Fernandez, Gallagher; Madueke, Havertz, Mudryk

CHE SUBS: Mendy, Silva, Koulibaly, Gilchrist, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Ziyech, Felix, Fofana

Action: With UEFA Champions League qualification up for grabs for the hosts, it was the visitors who started the brighter of the two with Mykhaylo Mudryk failing to convert a good Lewis Hall cross.

However, just six minutes in, Manchester United did take an early lead. A Christian Eriksen free-kick cross was met by Casemiro and the Brazilian international gave The Red Devils the advantage after a short VAR check. 

CASEMIRO!! 💥

The Brazilian scores against Chelsea for the second time this season! 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/dgWSxmdjIA

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 25, 2023

Chelsea began to settle into the game once more with several good moves, mainly led by Conor Gallagher, into the United half but the visitors lacked much end product. 

There was a lengthy stoppage mid-way through the first-half when Antony went down with what appeared to be ankle injury and the former Ajax winger had to be stretchered off as a result of the incident.

Chelsea then, once again, continued to create chances with Conor Gallagher starring. A good dart forward from Noni Madueke opened the space for Enzo Fernandez to feed an excellent ball through to Gallagher but the England international fired wide across goal.

Then, deep into first-half stoppage-time United doubled their lead and strengthened their grip on a spot in the top four. Casemiro, involved again, dinked a delightful pass through to the improving Jadon Sancho and the former Borussia Dortmund crossed to the far post for Anthony Martial to finish off an excellent move.

Within a few minutes of the second-half, Manchester United very nearly had a third with Bruno Fernandes striking the cross bar after a smart lay off from Jadon Sancho which had come from a move started by a marauding Victor Lindelof run. 

A few moments after that, Mykhaylo Mudryk went close again when the Ukrainian drove in-field and struck a relatively tame effort across goal but David de Gea managed to parry wide.

The Red Devils then began to up the ante and the pressure on the Chelsea goal quickly became relentless. Their best chance from the hour-mark spell came when Tyrell Malacia crossed to Christian Eriksen but the ball was slightly behind the Danish international and Arrizabalaga was able to clear off the line with a resultant shot from Casemiro flying just wide. That was just the start of some chaotic and end-to-end fun.

With less than 20 minutes of the match to go, Bruno Fernandes ran in behind Wesley Fofana and then embarrassed the Frenchman by flicking the ball through Fofana’s legs and then able to win a penalty, which he calmly slotted home. 

FERNANDES MAKES IT THREE! 🌟

After winning the penalty he calmly converts from the spot... pic.twitter.com/9DqTP50gBA

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 25, 2023

A fourth goal was added shortly after from first-half substitute Marcus Rashford. Wesley Fofana played a pass across goal, which was intercepted easily by Fernandes and he laid off for Rashford who, at the second attempt, managed to scruffily get the ball over the line.

United became rampant after that with Rashford driving at the Chelsea defence and laying off Alejandro Garnacho. The Argentine’s shot was deflected by Trevoh Chalobah onto the crossbar. 

Chelsea did manage to earn a consolation goal via Joao Felix. Hakim Ziyech played an impressive outside of the boot pass into midfield where Felix collected and drove at the United back-line before firing hard into the bottom corner past de Gea.

Manchester United continued to pepper the visitors’ goal, though, with Arrizabalaga pulling off three impressive late saves from Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay but the hosts had to settle for four. 

The big picture: Manchester United have confirmed their position in the top four and ensured UEFA Champions League qualification for next season with a game to go. Chelsea’s miserable campaign continues with just one win since mid-March in all competitions, having had a bottom-half finish confirmed a couple of seasons ago. 

Man of the match: Bruno Fernandes. The captain was taken off with five minutes of the 90 to go for a deserved standing ovation with the Portuguese international outstanding throughout the campaign and especially this evening. 

Expected goals: Manchester United (5.31) 4-1 (1.90) Chelsea

EVENTS

Kick-off

‘6 | GOAL | Casemiro (1-0)

’26 | INJURY | Antony

’45 | GOAL | Martial (2-0)

Half-time

’73 | GOAL | Fernandes [pen] (3-0)

’79 | GOAL | Rashford (4-0)

’89 | GOAL | Felix (4-1)

Full-time