Chelsea vs Manchester United: 1 Thing We Learned

NOTE: The final version of this review was deleted by WordPress for reason yet unknown to mankind. Therefore, the best I can do is publish a very early draft of this piece containing only one point to take away from the Chelsea thriller. Sincere apologies.

In a game that was to go a long way in elucidating the title aspirations of these two teams, Manchester United managed to overcome the slight odds by securing their first win at Stamford Bridge in 10 years, closing the gap at the top of the table to just one point.

Chelsea’s lineup was fairly predictable, sending out the same team that faced Shakhtar Donetsk mid-week:

Cech

Ivanovic Cahill Luiz Cole

Ramires Mikel

Mata Oscar Hazard

Torres

United, however, brought back the players rested in Europe to play this game as well as introducing Ashley Young into the lineup after an injury lay-off. They initially sent out what seemed to be a 4-2-3-1/4-4-2, which was also able to oscillate into a 4-4-1-1/4-1-4-1:

De Gea

Rafael Ferdinand Evans Evra

Carrick Cleverley

Valencia Rooney Young

Van Persie

What was initially a closely-fought game and a spectacular match for the neutral viewer spiralled in the last third of the game into a showcase of questionable refereeing decisions. 2 red cards and an offside goal meant that, on another day, the result could have been very different. Despite that, there were several points to take away from what is the most important Premier League match thus far this season.

A Win Is A Win

Football is a game of skill, determination, courage and intelligence. Just like everything else you could possibly name for me right now, luck is a small factor in this sport.

No doubt, Chelsea supporters are lambasting words of hatred directed at Mark Clattenburg and Sir Alex Ferguson, and swearing that the results would’ve been completely different with 11 men on the pitch… and maybe Radamel Falcao too. But the fact remains that Chelsea do not possess the talents of Falcao, and that they received two red cards (one of which being two yellows). Having said that, I agree, Chicharito’s goal was (based upon further replays) and offside goal.

But I’m sorry, that’s just the game. From that angle, Clattenburg can not possibly be blamed for that goal. Maybe the use of goal-line technology would’ve constructed a different verdict, but that’s another story.

Either way, I fully believe the sending off of Ivanovic and Torres was justified.

Branislav Ivanovic accidentally clipped Young during a counter-attack. However, he was the last defender and denied United a clear goalscoring opportunity. Chances are that only 4 seconds later United would have been a goal up. Ivanovic denied Young’s run forward and was subsequently sent off. I’m afraid that’s just the law.

Torres’ first card was received just after Mata’s goal after a despicable lunge of desperation at Cleverley’s throat. That, itself, deserved a red card. The second card, however, was a much more ambiguous affair. Evans made contact with Torres before the latter attempted a very convincing dive of extravagance. A closer look at replays clearly shows that although Evans made slight contact with Torres’ lower leg, he immediately threw himself on the floor yelling, grabbing his knee. A knee that faced no contact from Evans. He was, therefore, correctly sent off for simulation.

Whichever way one looks at it, Manchester United came away from London with all three points, and are now within one measly point of Chelsea’s temporary abode.