RONALDO’S A PORT IN STORM
Blues in total control until Cristiano goal
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 CHELSEA 1
CRISTIANO RONALDO rescued a point from a car-crash performance by Manchester United on yet another dispiriting and disappointing night at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese superstar’s 23rd goal of the season, and his 17th in the Premier League, was one of the few positives to emerge from a match in which the Red Devils deserved nothing.
Another was that the 1-1 draw – Ronaldo equalised after Marcos Alonso had given a dominant Chelsea side the lead on the hour mark – probably nudged United closer to eighth place.
With their top-four ambitions almost over, dropping out of European competition altogether – and certainly the Europa Conference League that seventh position would deliver – would probably not harm incoming manager Erik ten Hag’s chances of a successful first campaign next season.
It would, of course, remove the possibility of blaming an embarrassing defeat by, say, Huddersfield following a gruelling trip to Bulgaria or some-such place, but on balance the new boss would probably take it.
On this evidence United, who are three points ahead of seventh-placed West Ham – with the Londoners having a game in hand and a better goal difference – may not disappoint the Dutchman.
In fact the only wonder was that Chelsea did not win this as comfortably as their complete control and United’s apathy suggested they would.
The match started in a subdued atmosphere, with perhaps more than a thousand home supporters staying away from their seats until the 17th minute in yet another protest against the 17 years of Glazer ownership.
After a quarter of an hour they rose in larger numbers in support of the chant, “Stand up if you hate Glazers”.
It is an understatement to say United did nothing to quell the unease during a half in which they were utterly and totally devoid of ideas.
The home team simply conceded huge parts of the Old Trafford pitch to Chelsea and the visitors took full toll by stroking the ball around with impunity.
There were half-hearted displays everywhere from back to front.
But it was down the right flank that England full-back Reece James was given freedom by
Alex Telles and Marcus Rashford to ping balls in like he was on practice range.
Kai Havertz missed the best chance of the first half. The Germany striker was put clean through beautifully by the effervescent N’Golo Kante but he managed to fire straight at United goalkeeper David De Gea with the net gaping either side. Havertz also hit the side netting with another effort and headed over from close range, again from a James right-wing cross, when he should have hit the target.
James, Kante and Timo Werner picked out De Gea, too, when a shot either side of the Spain international
would have surely given Chelsea the advantage.
United offered next to nothing in return. There have been some poor displays under interim boss Ralf Rangnick, left, but every week they manage to take the bar lower – and this was the lowest it has gone.
A breakthrough for Chelsea seemed an inevitability and it came on the hour mark.
James was once again unmarked on the right flank. His chip was nodded on by Havertz and converted sweetly on the volley by Alonso. Amazingly, given the action that had passed up until that point in the game, their lead was to last just two minutes.
Kante was responsible for a loose pass and a missed challenge but there was art in Nemanja Matic’s sand-wedge delivery to Ronaldo and the Portuguese supplied a typically ruthless finish.
Chelsea almost struck again from James’ curling shot after good work by Mason Mount, only for the post to intervene.
The woodwork was almost United’s best performer.