Manchester United secure Champions League football after dismantling Chelsea

When Brighton gained at Old Trafford in August, it felt as if Erik ten Hag would battle to achieve September as Manchester United supervisor by no means thoughts the Champions League.

That was to be the final time United have been overwhelmed at dwelling in a Premier League marketing campaign that ends towards Fulham right here on Sunday. Victory over sitting geese Chelsea final evening confirmed that Ten Hag has certainly lifted the membership again amongst Europe’s elite.

That was his No 1 goal when he arrived from Ajax final summer season and the Dutchman deserves nice credit score for reaching it. This has been a vastly encouraging season and all of the extra so if United can add the FA Cup to the Carabao Cup after they meet Manchester City at Wembley in eight days’ time.

Ten Hag wanted some extent from these last two video games to make certain of a top-four end, and his gamers did it on the first time of asking in a reasonably bonkers free-for-all. It completed 4-1 however may simply have been 10-5.

Despite the scoreline, if United play like this at Wembley it may get ugly. Ten Hag is aware of City won’t be practically as wasteful as Chelsea.

United blew their justifiable share of probabilities too in a recreation strewn with errors. There have been some epic encounters between these two golf equipment down the years, and this wasn’t one in all them.

The architect of United’s victory was Casemiro, 5 days after his acrobatic overheard kick proved decisive at Bournemouth. 

The Brazilian scored the primary and helped create the second for Anthony Martial with one other second of magic. Bruno Fernandes obtained the third from the penalty spot earlier than Marcus Rashford celebrated his 30th of the season.

Victory got here a price, nonetheless. Brazil winger Antony was stretchered off within the 28th minute after sustaining an harm to his proper ankle in a problem with Trevoh Chalobah and should now be a critical doubt for Wembley.

Luke Shaw additionally went off with a again drawback. At least, Antony’s alternative Rashford appeared sharp after two video games out by harm and sickness. 

So did Alejandro Garnacho although {the teenager} may have had a hat-trick after approaching within the 70th minute. Both gamers are able to making life tough for City.

And what of Chelsea? The finish of a wretched season – and the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino – can’t come quickly sufficient.

They have been already assured to complete within the backside half of the Premier League for the primary time in 27 years, and this set a brand new report of 16 defeats in a 38-game season.

Caretaker boss Frank Lampard has now misplaced eight of his 10 video games since taking on final month.

‘Another actuality day,’ was how Lampard described it afterwards and these are painful occasions for his membership.

He took the chance to relaxation Raheem Sterling and Thiago Silva, bringing Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke into what was Chelsea’s youngest-ever beginning line-up within the Premier League at 23 years and 238 days. 

There was no scarcity of effort.

But even a month in need of his 45th birthday, Lampard would most likely have finished a greater marking job than his gamers when United took a sixth-minute lead.

Christian Eriksen whipped over a wonderful free kick from the left and Casemiro was in a position to breach the skinny blue line too simply.

He strolled in between Wesley Fofana and Kai Havertz to nod previous Kepa Arrizabalaga from shut vary.

For Chelsea, it appeared typical of their malaise.

It was evident on the different finish of the pitch when Mykhailo Mudryk made an terrible hash of an early probability and once more when Havertz had the easy activity of squaring the ball to Conor Gallagher in entrance of objective however in some way over-hit the go.

Havertz then headed huge in entrance of objective from Lewis Hall’s cross, and Enzo Fernandez despatched Gallagher by however he pulled his shot huge of the far put up.

United made the a lot of the let-off within the fifth of six minutes added on for Antony’s harm. 

Casemiro was pivotal within the objective once more, dinking a beautiful go excessive of the Chelsea defence for Jadon Sancho who slid the ball to the again put up.

Having allowed Cesar Azpilicueta to get again and make a goal-saving sort out earlier within the half, Martial did not make the identical mistake once more as he scored in an empty internet.

Lampard’s expression when Stuart Attwell blew for half-time stated all of it. 

Chelsea had given pretty much as good as they obtained in an open first half however have been getting into two down.

Chances continued to go begging within the second half, primarily on the away finish. 

Fernandes and Garnacho rattled the woodwork, and Eriksen could not fairly bundle the ball over the road from a few inches out.

Fernandes finally obtained the third within the 73rd minute after he was introduced down by a careless problem from Fofana. 

Rashford tapped within the fourth earlier than Felix denied United a seventh clear sheet in a row within the league at Old Trafford.

Solid defence has seen them over the road within the race for the Champions League, and goodness is aware of they may want it towards City.

The distress will finish for Chelsea at dwelling to Newcastle on Sunday. 

This win lifts United above Eddie Howe’s facet into third place.

However, it might be a shock if Ten Hag risked additional accidents for the Cup Final by going full-strength towards Fulham. 

Only one recreation issues now.