NO FIZZ... JUST CAVA
‘CURSE OF PARIS’ STRIKES UNITED AGAIN!
OVERCAST Not even Bruno Fernandes could lift gloom at sodden Old Trafford
At a rain-lashed Old Trafford, United and Chelsea played out only the second goalless draw of the Premier League season, one that said much about the respective states of both teams.
After Tuesday’s 2- 1 win at Paris Saint-Germain, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had lamented a lack of edge with no fans, claiming it felt more like a glorified training game than a prized scalp on the Champions League stage.
That was certainly the case again here. A contest between two sides desperate not to lose, it descended into what amounted to a practice match, with little urgency or enterprise.
Solskjaer said: “Last time after we beat PSG [3-1 in Paris, March 2019] we struggled big-time.
“We lost to Arsenal and went 12 games where we probably didn’t deserve to win any.
“This time we’ve got a point on the board against a good team.
“Their keeper made two fantastic saves from Marcus Rashford in the brightest moments of the game.
“It was an even game but I felt if there was going to be a winner it was us.”
For United, after successive defeats at home to start the season, a point and a clean sheet did represent progress of sorts. So to for Chelsea, though both teams cancelled each other out in an encounter they will take little from.
Supporters were, for once, probably grateful they were not allowed into the stadium, given the lack of entertainment and the relentless rain, which provided a suitably melancholy backdrop to the dire proceedings.
There was a United debut for deadline-day signing Edinson Cavani, who came on in the second half with Paul Pogba in a double substitution, but neither player was able to provide the edge to break the deadlock.
Chelsea settled into a sustained spell of possession early on, with United entrenched in their own half, forced to adopt a policy of containment.
Yet for all the ball retention, it took Chelsea until the 25th minute to conjure the first opening, Timo Werner unable to reach Kai Havertz’s pass after a devastatingly quick break started by Ben Chilwell.
Blues keeper Edouard Mendy provided a moment of comedy – albeit not for Chelsea – on the half-hour, when he inexplicably rolled a simple pass, intended for Thiago Silva, across his own goal and out of play.
It was the closest either side had come to scoring up until that point. Christian Pulisic shot straight at David de Gea moments later, then dragged an effort wide after dispossessing Fred as the Brazilian dawdled.
That chance saw the game spark briefly into life, with United going close to opening the scoring in the 34th minute,
Mendy producing a fine save with his
right leg to deny Rashford, put through by Juan Mata.
Mendy came to his side’s rescue again six minutes later, diving full stretch to his right to divert a goalbound shot from Mata.
United skipper Harry Maguire was lucky not to concede a penalty just before half-time when he grabbed opposite number Cesar Azpilicueta around the neck as he rose to head the ball.
Sky pundit Patrice Evra branded it a “Hulk Hogan challenge”. It was still one that VAR somehow managed to miss.
Solskjaer brought on Pogba and Cavani just before the hour, and the latter could even have scored with his first touch, an instinctive flick that only ruffled the side netting.
Rashford, United’s late match-winner in Paris, almost repeated that feat here as the fourth official’s board went up for added time, but Mendy proved unbeatable again, turning away the forward’s curling effort.
Solskjaer added: “Cavani has been out for a little while. He had a nice run to the near post and a nice flick and he showed good presence in the box.
“He’s going to give us a lot. He’s come in and already had a great influence on the training ground.
“But we know he needs game-time to get his sharpness.”
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard ( left) was full of praise for his new keeper. He said: “Mendy played very well. You’ve got to rely on your keeper to do what’s needed in the tight games and he showed today what he’s here for.
“He has great composure about him. I was absolutely delighted with him.”