LIKE IT, CONTE Defence is best form of attack... stat’s final
on target to United’s two, the second of which came in a late rally when sub Marouane Fellaini went closest to scoring for the visitors.
That just about summed up another poor Red Devils away-day performance. They have managed just one goal in 630 minutes, on the road against their topsix rivals, since Mourinho took charge in the summer of 2016.
They were no more ambitious Stamford Bridge.
United set up defensively with Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones in a back three. The latter was lucky that referee Anthony Taylor deemed Morata had pushed him, before the England centre half-volleyed into his own net after just six minutes. TV replays suggesting it was a harsh decision.
Mourinho’s men offered very little as Marcus Rashford headed over and Lukaku’s shot on the turn was easily beaten away by Thibaut Courtois.
Tiemoue Bakayoko was frustrating and effective in equal measure, often giving the ball away and wasting a big chance, but also not giving United’s at The Blues have lost just one of their last 16 Premier League home matches against Man Utd, winning 10 and drawing five.
Alvaro Morata has had a hand in 10 goals in his opening 10 Premier League games for Chelsea (7 goals, 3 assists) – only Diego Costa was involved in more in his first 10 for the club (11).
Morata has scored 10 headed goals in league competition since the start of last season – no player in the big five European leagues has scored more (level with Andrea Bellotti).
Cesar Azpilicueta has assisted Morata five times in the Premier League this season, more than any player has assisted another in 2017-18 so far. After recording 20 shots on target and scoring seven goals in their first three away league games this season, the Red Devils have managed just six in their last three, scoring once.
Cesc Fabregas created six goalscoring opportunities in this match – no other Chelsea player provided more than one. There are now eight points separating Man Utd in second and Man City in first – the biggest ever such gap after both the top two have played 11 games in Premier League history. Nemanja Matic a moment’s peace. But Chelsea really turned it up after the break. Eden Hazard should have scored but fired Cesc Fabregas’s cross straight at David De Gea after 53 minutes.
Two minutes later, the hosts went ahead. Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross picked out Morata (right).
The Spain striker rose, hung in the air, then put a bullet header past De Gea and into the top corner.
United finally came to life in the dying minutes. Fellaini, wearing heavy strapping on a thigh, came on and United went direct.
Rashford sliced over the bar, before Fellaini chested down
Bailly’s long punt forward and saw his deflected shot saved by Courtois.
Victory was
Chelsea’s and Conte’s
– any other outcome would have been a travesty. JOSE MOURINHO insisted “I’m not reading the stats” when quizzed on Romelu Lukaku’s minimal involvement against Chelsea.
Ignoring the facts and figures is probably not a bad idea because they make grim reading. It is now one goal in seven league games for United under Mourinho in away games against Big-six rivals.
And after racking up 20 shots on target, scoring seven goals and picking up seven points from their first three away games this season – at Swansea, Stoke and Southampton - United have managed just six shots, one goal and one point from their last three.
Two of those most recent three games were Big Six clashes at Liverpool and Chelsea as United’s struggles in those fixtures continued. That clearly needs to change.
After coming in for plenty of stick for United’s display at Anfield last month, and perhaps sensing a vulnerability about Chelsea, Mourinho adopted a more attacking approach at Stamford Bridge yesterday.
Lukaku was partnered by Marcus Rashford in a front two, Henrikh Mkhitaryan was behind them, and Mourinho gave his wing-backs licence to get forward.
But United’s greater attacking intent meant they sacrificed the control and organisation that Mourinho craves so much.
As a result, United looked on the verge of conceding every time Chelsea poured forward and it was no surprise when Alvaro Morata did eventually break through in the 55th minute.
So it will be no surprise if Mourinho reverts to his normal approach to big away games when United visit Arsenal on December 2.