After a poor start and going down 2-0 to Chelsea, United fought back to lead 3-2 but threw it away by conceding goals in the 100th and 101st minutes.
99:17 – when the equaliser was scored – is the latest a side has ever led in the Premier League but gone on to lose.
For the second time in a week, United showed that they simply can’t manage a game. Rather than keeping the ball and seeing out the win at 3-2, we were far too open and invited pressure. Diogo Dalot’s poor decision-making led to a penalty for the equaliser and the marking at the corner for the Chelsea winner was non-existent.
Champions League qualification is surely gone now. The question is, can Erik Ten Hag survive the latest setback?
A Bad result with some good performances
What made last night’s result so hard to take is the fact that, for about an hour, United were the better team.
The opening twenty minutes or so were poor; United got done by another cut back for the first goal (is nobody watching the video of the Brentford goal at the weekend?) and gave away a soft penalty.
However, we kept going and a Chelsea defensive error allowed Garnacho in to give us a lifeline. Bruno Fernandes equalised 5 minutes later with an excellent header and United went into half time in the ascendency.
It was more United pressure after half time, and mid-way through the second half Antony combined brilliantly with Marcus Rashford before playing in a peach of a first-time cross to Garnacho, and United were in front.
We were good value for the lead and it was only in the latter stages of the game, after several injuries to United defenders, that Chelsea started to get back on top. All-in-all, United deserved at least a point out of the game, but were ultimately architects of our downfall.
Speaking after the match, manager Erik Ten Hag showed frustration about the manner in which we lost.
“We make ourselves in a winning position by very good football, sometimes brilliant football, scoring great goals. And then in stoppage time we didn’t manage it, we didn’t bring the win over the line and of course, that’s frustrating.
“I don’t know what it is but what it is that you have to do your job and they know their jobs and then you have to make the right decisions. We didn’t make the right decisions, we didn’t react quick enough to avoid this situation.”
Erik Ten Hag after the game
Yet more defensive woes
After losing two centre halves to injury at the weekend, unbelievably, the same thing happened last night.
Raphael Varane was replaced at half time by Jonny Evans, who played excellently for 20 minutes. However, the veteran defender himself had to be replaced by young Frenchman Willy Kambwala after picking up a knock. It’s unclear whether either Varane or Evans will be fit for Sunday, but I wouldn’t count on it
So that’s Martinez, Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Varane and Jonny Evans probably out for the Liverpool game, with Maguire/Kambwala looking like the likely starting pair. Hardly an elite pairing.
To make matters worse, Casemiro picked up a knock last night too. Say what you like about Manchester United, but injuries have had an undeniable effect on our season. Whether that is coincidence or some sort of mis-management is another story.
Player ratings and MOTM
Onana – 6. Made a string of saves but should have done better with Chelsea’s opener.
Dalot – 5.5. Set up the second goal with a superb cross but did struggle against Cole Palmer at times and gave away a soft penalty.
Varane – 6. Picked up an injury but kept going until half time, was resilient at the heart of defence.
Maguire – 6.5. Started off shakily with some bad tackles but grew as the game went on. Set up some attacks when striding forward from the back.
Wan-Bissaka – 6.5. Back on his favoured right-hand side and looked much better for it. Combined well with Antony at times.
Mainoo – 6. Some good moments on the ball, but – as can be expected of an 18-year old – didn’t give us the control we needed.
Fernandes – 7. A typical Bruno performance; committed, passionate and at times chaotic. Scored the equaliser and set up several attacks and chances.
Casemiro – 5. Looked off the pace a few times in the first half and made several mistimed tackles. Brought off after picking up a knock.
Garnacho – 8 & MOTM. Scored two very well-taken goals and was a menace to the Chelsea backline throughout.
Antony – 8. Could have also been given MOTM. Was involved in United’s first-half goals and set up Garnacho with a brilliant cross for the third. Looks so much better when running at defenders with pace – the only blight on the performance was conceding the soft first penalty.
Hojlund – 5. Left the ball intelligently for Bruno to head in the equaliser, but didn’t look as sharp as before his injury.
Subs:
Evans (on for Varane on 45′) – 7. A great 20-minute cameo until he had to be replaced.
Rashford (on for Hojlund on 66′) – 5. Combined with Antony for the third goal but didn’t offer much else.
Kambwala (on for Evans on 66′) – 6. Did pretty well given the circumstances.
McTominay (on for Casemiro on 75′) – 5. Gave the midfield more energy but still not much control. Deflected the winner in.
Mount (on for Garnacho on 86′) – N/A.
Looking ahead
Up next is Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Will it be a repeat of the FA Cup heroics or a collapse? It’s difficult to predict these days.
It looks for all the world like the top four is gone, so this game is really about stopping Liverpool’s title charge – something that we can all get behind. The sub-plot to the game is Erik Ten Hag’s tenure as United manager. There are rumblings of discontent from United’s higher-ups, and his job is by no means secure.
The game against Liverpool on Sunday could go some way to deciding his future.
