Manchester United’s new-manager bounce fell flat as they shared the points in a stale 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford that confirmed their worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, United’s interim boss until Ruben Amorim arrives on November 11, was unable to help his side replicate their free-scoring performance from Wednesday’s 5-2 Carabao Cup win over a weakened Leicester.
Chelsea, now without victory at Old Trafford in the league on their last 12 visits, were the better side for most of the game but allowed United to get in front through Bruno Fernandes’ second-half penalty after Rasmus Hojlund was brought down by Robert Sanchez.
Bruno Fernandes scores a penalty to give Manchester United the lead against Chelsea
Moises Caicedo celebrates after equalising for Chelsea at Old Trafford
Stunned into action, Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, the best player on the pitch in a game sorely lacking quality, clapped back four minutes later with a sweetly-struck volley that beat Andre Onana through the legs of Mykhailo Murdyk.
Lisandro Martinez rode his luck in the closing stages with a knee-high challenge on Cole Palmer, which was reviewed by the Video Assistant referee, but deemed not worthy of a sending off, contrary to the opinion of Gary Neville. “Martinez is lucky. I think it is a red.”
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was in full agreement. “When you go for a player or the legs, there is no doubt about the decision. I think it is quite clear it is a red,” he said after the game.
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Roy Keane, Frank Lampard and Jamie Redknapp analyse Lisandro Martinez’s late foul on Cole Palmer saying he was ‘very lucky’ to avoid a red card.
The visitors always felt more likely winners but failed to put United away. Noni Madueke headed onto a post early in the first half from close range, although, if the ball had gone in it likely would have been pulled back for a push in the back on Casemiro.
Marcus Rashford closed the first half by striking the frame of the goal on the volley after a pass from Fernandes, who along with Alejandro Garnacho spurned decent chances late in the second half.
Perhaps the most perplexing aspect of the game was Chelsea’s sloppiness against a United side they are far better than on the evidence of this season. The point does, however, take them above title-chasing Arsenal on goal difference after the Gunners’ defeat at Newcastle.
Van Nistelrooy, limited in his options because of injury, only made one change from Erik ten Hag’s last game before his sacking and, unsurprisingly, the outcome was more of the same from a side that remain 13th in the table, with three wins from their opening 10 games.
Keane: Amorim should’ve signed a longer deal
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Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane slammed the Red Devils and believes they are way off it in terms of making the top four in the Premier League.
Sky Sports‘ Roy Keane:
“Ruben Amorim should have signed a longer contract. There is a long way back for this team.
“This is an average Manchester United team. All the stats back that up. They are hit and miss – you never know which team will turn up. Not good.
“‘Boring’ seems a bit strong. But they lack conviction. It’s really disappointing. It’s so flat.
“This team is way off getting back in the top four.
“You look at certain individuals and they think they’re better than they are. United are average at everything. There is nothing special about them. It was very quiet at Old Trafford. I was glad when the referee blew the final whistle.”
Van Nistelrooy: Disappointed we didn’t take the win
Man Utd interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy:
“Slightly disappointed that we didn’t take the win to be honest. We had the better of the chances in the game.
“Overall, I think the performance of the players was fantastic. They left their all out there on the pitch and in the end, of course, we settle for a draw.
“[When we scored] it was a great moment, when you heard Old Trafford explode and in such an important moment. Bruno did really well taking the penalty and then the emotions come out.
“I have enjoyed every second of it. I am here to help and [after these two games] even more. And we will all get behind the new manager and hope the club grows.”
Maresca: Martinez should have seen red
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca:
“We knew that it would be a difficult game. For a big part of the game, we controlled it quite well, but in the last 10 minutes we lost a bit of balance through our desire to win the game.
“Overall, they were quite similar [under Van Nistelrooy compared to Ten Hag] we expected them to be a bit more aggressive. Overall, the game was quite clear.
“In this stadium, against this team, when you go down it is difficult to come back and we did that. And then we tried to win the game and lost a bit of balance.”
Asked about player of the match, Caicedo, Maresca added: “Since we arrived, he is doing fantastic. We are very happy with him.
Asked about Martinez’s potential red-card challenge on Cole Palmer, Maresca said in his press conference: “They [TV] showed me [the challenge] before the press conference,” Maresca told reporters. “I think it’s quite clear for all of us and they [officials] took a different decision.
“When there is no intention to go for ball and you only go for the player, it’s a red. He [referee] didn’t say nothing, but when you go for a player or the legs, there is no doubt about the decision. I think it is quite clear it is a red.”
Chelsea let Man Utd off the hook
Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea boss, will no doubt come away from Old Trafford feeling like this was an opportunity missed. Seeing Arsenal and Man City lose on Saturday, this was the moment for Chelsea to capitalise and close the gap on the title chasers.
Manchester United hardly made life difficult for Chelsea at Old Trafford, either. The game was there for the taking and sloppy passes from Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte in midfield only offered further encouragement to the Premier League’s third-highest scorers.
“Chelsea let Manchester United off the hook today,” Sky Sports’ Roy Keane said after the game.
Chelsea had been considered ahead of schedule on the early showings of this season, so soon after the arrival of their new head coach, but this performance gave us a bit of a reality check about where they truly are in the picture at the top of the table.
Undoubtedly, the Blues are firmly in the hunt for best of the rest, below the top three clubs in Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, but with inconsistencies still being worked out of the team, it feels like a stretch to say that they can keep up with those sides right now.
There is plenty to be excited about for those of a Chelsea persuasion, though, with this squad boasting the youngest average squad age in the Premier League era. It speaks volumes about the quick progress of Maresca that they are already in these conversations.
