THE VERDICT: UNITED 0 CHELSEA 1

IN the end masterclass.

Unfortunately for the United manager, it was Antonio Conte who pulled off an FA Cup triumph that was right out of his own play book.

Chelsea parked the bus, rode their luck and had the last laugh.

Inside, Mourinho must have been applauding every time a blue shirt got in the way of another United attack.

There was no poetry in motion, but Mourinho is the ultimate advocate of a means to an end.

A 1-0 win for Conte came by virtue of Eden Hazard’s first-half penalty.

United had the better chances after that - and totally dominated the second half.

But it was Chelsea who lifted the famous old trophy, to leave United without silverware this season.

Paul Pogba will have a summer to ask himself how he failed to hit the target with a free header from six yards out.

Marcus Rashford will replay his one-onone with Thibaut Courtois time and again.

And Phil Jones will wish he just stayed on his feet when chasing Hazard into the box in what proved to it was a Jose Mourinho be the match.

But United fans will all be asking the same question - why did it take so long for their players to realise they were in a cup final?

Mourinho’s side emerged from the half-time interval a different team.

The first 45 minutes had been characterised by their sloppy passing, lethargic movement and clueless attacks. Chelsea weren’t much better Hazard aside - but they didn’t need to be.

From the restart United upped the tempo, if not the quality entirely.

Chelsea were put on the back foot by Jesse Lingard’s darting runs and pulled out of shape by the movement of Rashford and Alexis Sanchez.

Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic won the ball high up the pitch and Pogba applied the pressure with runs from deep. James Robson decisive moment of this The Frenchman typified the change in United. At times he looked disinterested in the first half, but now he was passing the ball at pace - constantly offering himself up as an option for team-mates. Chelsea’s only response was a rearguard action and the hope to hit United on the break. They did when Marcos (pen, 22) None Hazard 67% 33% 18 6 87,647 9 5 Valencia, Jones Courtois Michael Oliver Alonso forced a save from David de Gea from close range - and they could have won another penalty when Ashley Young handled in his own box.

But that was a rare reprieve from what was relentless pressure from United, who had started without Romelu Lukaku still suffering the effects of his ankle injury.

Rashford and Matic forced saves from Courtois as Mourinho’s men continued to press for an equaliser.

Sanchez had the ball in the back of the net, only for it to be ruled offside.

Ultimately, United end the season trophyless, but this was a glimpse of what they can do on the front foot - and it at least gave their support something to cheer on a day of disappointment.

The fear is Mourinho will see the manner in which Chelsea triumphed and be tempted to revert to type.