Chelsea held their nerve within the race for Champions League qualification as Marc Cucurella’s second-half header secured a 1-0 win over Manchester United to ship them fourth.
The stress was on for Chelsea after Aston Villa beat Tottenham, a end result which might have moved them above Enzo Maresca’s facet had they dropped factors however, after a tense look forward to the breakthrough, captain Reece James arrange Cucurella with a fantastic flip and cross.
Though Ruben Amorim went with a powerful line-up forward of the Europa League ultimate, if Chelsea had slipped up towards this United facet, sixteenth and now winless for a report eight Premier League video games, questions would have been requested.
Picture: Marc Cucurella Celebrates His Objective
Chelsea will at the least be within the prime 5 after they go to Nottingham Forest of their ultimate sport of the league season on Might 25. Victory on the Metropolis Floor would assure a return to the Champions League after two years away.
United have now misplaced 18 video games within the league this season and are but to hit 40 factors, often the goal for groups to keep away from relegation, with only one sport left towards Villa. Every part is driving on Wednesday’s Europa League ultimate towards Tottenham.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Cucurella offers Chelsea a vital lead
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Reece James hit the put up for Chelsea
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Harry Maguire’s intelligent end was dominated out by semi-automated offside
The damning Man Utd stats
This was Manchester United’s 18th league defeat of the season, their most in a season since dropping 20 in 1973-74 within the final season by which they have been relegated.
United have gone eight league video games with no win (D2 L6) for the primary time since an 11-game stretch between December 1989 and February 1990.
This was Ruben Amorim’s second run of dropping three consecutive Premier League matches with Manchester United (additionally doing so in December), just one fewer run of three consecutive defeats than Sir Alex Ferguson had throughout his 810 video games within the competitors (3).
Because the begin of April, United have gained fewer factors than some other Premier League facet (2), drawing two and dropping six of eight video games in that point.
United have failed to attain within the first half of 26 Premier League matches this season, their most in a single marketing campaign. No facet has failed to attain in additional first halves this season (relegated Leicester additionally on 26).
Chelsea one step nearer to Champions League
Picture:
Marc Cucurella is mobbed after scoring the winner towards Manchester United
There was a celebration environment after the full-time whistle blew for the ultimate time at Stamford Bridge this season. Chelsea’s homeowners are only one win away from their first Champions League qualification after greater than £1bn spent and three coaches sacked.
Behdad Eghbali, co-founder of Clearlake Capital, and co-sporting administrators Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley have been on the pitch having fun with the second with gamers and employees after the win was sealed. How totally different it may need been if there was one other slip.
Chelsea didn’t discover it as simple others had towards United within the league and, with out suspended striker Nicolas Jackson, it was not at all times clear have been the breakthrough would come from as Tyrique George, 19, struggled up entrance in his first league begin.
Pressure had constructed across the stadium – and solely grew when Villa’s victory over Spurs was confirmed – till the skipper got here up with the second of brilliance required to interrupt the impasse, having struck a put up with an beautiful strike within the first half.
Seventy minutes had handed when James pirouetted on the sting of the field earlier than selecting out Cucurella free within the field. His seventh objective of the season, a fantastic header again throughout objective, has a case for being his most vital. Win at Forest and it’s mission full.
Maresca might be as relieved as anybody. Chelsea have been the higher workforce for a lot of the sport, however the wait made life uncomfortable. The results of falling quick could have seen attentions flip to him. As a substitute, Eghabli’s presence on the pitch was only a footnote.
James: Chelsea belong in Champions League
Chelsea captain Reece James to Sky Sports activities:
“I knew I had area and time. I knew I put the ball in a very good space, this man was at all times arriving.
“We have been working the entire season, the message has been clear from the beginning. Executing it has been exhausting. Immediately, what we’re making an attempt to do pays off.
“I really feel assured, it is essentially the most I’ve performed in a number of seasons. I wish to assist the workforce and hope we are able to end it in the appropriate approach.
“The Champions League is the place the membership belongs, competing in one of the best competitions. Folks like to write down us off and name us younger ,but it surely’s an skilled Manchester United workforce and we did what we would have liked to do to get the three factors.”
Story of the match in stats…
What’s developing within the Premier League?
Sky Sports activities to point out 215 reside PL video games from subsequent season
Picture:
Sky Sports activities to point out 215 reside Premier League video games from subsequent season
From subsequent season, Sky Sports activities’ Premier League protection will enhance from 128 matches to at the least 215 video games solely reside.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League video games subsequent season are on Sky Sports activities.
Shoppe die neuesten Trends in Mode & Accessoires – stylisch, preiswert und immer aktuell.