Manchester United ensured their qualification for the Champions League next season with a resounding 4-1 triumph over a wasteful Chelsea side under the guidance of manager Erik ten Hag.
This season has been promising for the Dutchman, as he led the Red Devils to victory in the Carabao Cup and secured a spot in the upcoming FA Cup final. Despite encountering a recent stumble, Ten Hag successfully steered the team back on course.
In their match against Chelsea, United dominated, with goals from Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes, and Marcus Rashford, leaving the toothless Chelsea squad unable to respond effectively.
This victory sealed United’s return to the pinnacle of European football with a game to spare.
BIG. THREE. POINTS. ✅#MUFC || #MUNCHE
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 25, 2023
Frank Lampard’s Chelsea suffered their record-breaking 16th defeat in a 38-match Premier League season as they fell to a 4-1 loss against Manchester United. The Blues’ early missed opportunity by Mykhailo Mudryk was punished by a sixth-minute header from Casemiro.
Chelsea had several chances throughout the game, with Conor Gallagher’s miss just before halftime and Anthony’s injury later on. Manchester United capitalized on their opportunities, with Bruno Fernandes converting a penalty and substitute Marcus Rashford scoring his 30th goal of the season in all competitions.
Manager Erik ten Hag maintained faith in the same lineup that defeated Bournemouth. United took an early lead when Christian Eriksen delivered a free-kick from the left, and Casemiro rose above the defense to head the ball into the net.
The Brazilian midfielder celebrated enthusiastically as the VAR confirmed the goal after checking for offside. However, the match could have taken a different turn if Mudryk had shown composure just moments before, but he failed to convert a clear chance created by Lewis Hall’s assist.
The game continued with back-and-forth action, and United had an excellent opportunity to extend their lead when Eriksen played three teammates through against a lone defender.
Fernandes’ smart run opened a lane for Antony to play in Martial, but the dithering forward was caught by Cesar Azpilicueta.
It proved Antony’s last impact of note as soon the winger left the field on a stretcher having pulled up in agony during an innocuous-looking coming together.
Rashford replaced him and when play resumed Chelsea were again ruing another wasted chance, with Kai Havertz heading a Hall cross wide.
Fernandes saw penalty claims against Wesley Fofana overlooked and Gallagher bent wide as a helter-skelter half headed towards a conclusion.
The Chelsea midfielder would go closer still in stoppage time. Put behind by Enzo Fernandez’s fine pass, Gallagher dragged across the face of goal.
It proved another costly miss as Casemiro played an exceptional pass through to Jadon Sancho, who delivered a low ball for Martial to turn in at the back post.
That gut punch was nearly followed by another blow with moments of the second half getting under way.
United, who replaced Luke Shaw with Tyrell Malacia, won the ball through Victor Lindelof and Sancho teed up Fernandes to crash a strike off the woodwork.
Like the first half, this was an entertaining back and forth.
De Gea stretched to tip a deflected Mudryk shot behind before the slightest deflection meant Eriksen could not tap in a low Malacia cross. Kepa got back to claw off the line and Casemiro curled the follow-up just wide.
Hall was denied by De Gea, as was Mudryk’s deflected follow-up, and Chelsea saw penalty claims ignored as they looked to reduce the deficit.
But hope of a comeback was ended once and for all in the 73rd minute.
Fofana caught Fernandes with a lazy recovery challenge after being nutmegged by the Portuguese, who stepped up to coolly to convert in front of the Stretford End.
Rashford bent wide as United pushed for a fourth, which he would get in the 79th minute.
Fernandes cut out a lax Fofana pass and teed up the returning forward to put into an empty net after Kepa’s first save only slowed the ball.
Alejandro Garnacho hit the bar and was denied by Kepa either side of a fine Chelsea consolation, with Felix running through the centre and ending a fine solo run with a thumping drive.