Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CARRICK’S BATTLERS RANGNICK A POINT
United bench are wired for sound as they tune up for arrival of their new coach
THE touchline drama provided the best entertainment in what was ultimately a stalemate at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United’s bench were wired for sound, coach Kieran Mckenna and technical director Darren Fletcher wore ear-pieces and had video screens in front of them and it felt as though Ralf Rangnick was managing by remote control.
Orders were barked to caretaker boss Michael Carrick (left with Fletcher) who passed them on to the players, with incoming interim boss Rangnick unable to take charge until he gets his work permit.
Just up the touchline, Thomas Tuchel was going crazy, was booked for a rant at the officials and sank to his knees in frustration when Antonio Rudiger (right) blasted over when he had the chance to win it deep into added time. Who picked the United team? The club will of course deny it was Rangnick, but this starting XI was one designed not to lose, a big departure from recent line-ups. It would appear the German’s impending arrival is already having an influence.
This will feel like a good result for United, a disappointing one for Chelsea who a few weeks ago were six points clear and, although still top, have seen that lead trimmed to a single point.
The game was hardly a classic – the first-half was woeful – but came to life with touchline rows and Jorginho gaining redemption by converting an equalising penalty for Chelsea after his mistake let in Jadon
Sancho for
United’s opener.
But suddenly, after the disastrous past few weeks which cost Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer his job, United do at least look more solid and harder to beat. The mood has changed from submission to defiance.
Chelsea may regret rotating as much as they did, with Mason Mount and Kai Havertz on the bench along with Romelu Lukaku – only just coming back to fitness but who did come on as a late sub. But it was points dropped for the Blues, and Tuchel will be unhappy. They still look the team to beat for the title, but it is going to be a three-horse race and dropping points at home could cost them. Chelsea struggled to open up United, who came to defend with Fred, Scott Mctominay and Nemanja Matic in midfield. Rudiger went as close as anyone in the first half to finding a goal, his 30-yard drive
rattling the crossbar. But the game changed five minutes after the restart.
Chelsea did not take advantage of a free-kick into the United box, Bruno Fernandes hoofed the ball up into the heavens and there was Jorginho as last man near the halfway line.
His control let him down and the ball ran away from him to Sancho, who sprinted through and confidently slipped a shot past Edouard Mendy.
Out of nothing, against the story of the match, the visitors had stolen the lead.
Chelsea looked stunned and struggled to haul themselves back – until they were given a present.
Aaron Wan-bissaka went to clear a corner but whacked Thiago Silva and referee Anthony Taylor pointed straight to the spot.
This was a chance for
Jorginho to make amends. And he slotted it into the bottom corner.
It was Chelsea’s game to win now. They went for it by throwing on Lukaku, and Tuchel lost it over an offside decision and got booked (below).
There was one last chance but Rudiger slashed over and Tuchel sank to his knees in frustration while United breathed a huge sigh of relief.