Ibrahimovic’s season might be over after he twisted a knee against Anderlecht but the injury allowed match-winner Marcus Rashford to switch to the centreThe final act of normal time featured the sad sight of Zlatan Ibrahimovic twisting his right knee and being taken off as the tie moved into extra time. Yet this would have a beneficial side effect for Manchester United with what happened in the 107th minute of the contest.Ibrahimovic’s exit meant a reshuffle as on came Anthony Martial, who took Marcus Rashford’s wide-left berth, with the No19 becoming centre-forward – and his deflected left-foot finish took his side into the Europa League semi-finals. Related: Marcus Rashford’s extra-time winner takes Manchester United through Related: Manchester United 2-1 Anderlecht...
Mauricio Pochettino enjoyed first success against Chelsea with three central defenders and United’s win will have clarified the Tottenham manager’s thinkingChelsea were poor against Manchester United, very poor. That for the first time in a decade they did not manage a shot on target is damning. And it is true that they have not of late been playing with the relentlessness they did through the final three months of last year. But the idea they were somehow been found out on Sunday seems weirdly exaggerated. The title race may be on again but Chelsea have a lead of four points over Tottenham, whatever psychological pressure Spurs may be able to apply in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final.In terms of shape, Chelsea...
Manchester United’s man-marking tactics shut out the Premier League leaders and Antonio Conte may find others trying the same approachJosé Mourinho’s Manchester United are not the first side to defeat Antonio Conte’s Chelsea or even the first side to defeat Conte’s Chelsea since their season-changing switch to 3-4-3 back in October but no other side has nullified Chelsea’s attacking threats so effectively. This was the first time for a decade that Chelsea did not have a shot on target in a Premier League match. Suddenly, with Tottenham only four points behind, the title race is back on and Chelsea’s remaining opponents have a tactical template to follow. Related: Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino fires early shot at 'artificial' Chelsea | Sachin Nakrani...
Mourinho puts one over on Conte, Rashford and Lingard offer United vision of post-Ibrahimovic era and Hazard’s lack of hunger whets Spurs’ appetiteAt times José Mourinho has been cast as a fading force. Not after this. By the end Antonio Conte stood in rain in the technical area looking clueless. Manchester United’s victory derived from Mourinho’s tactical masterclass with the attacking axis of Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford, and Ander Herrera’s man‑marking of Eden Hazard. It is the ideal boost before the Europa League quarter-final second leg against Anderlecht on Thursday, with the tie poised at 1-1. Before this match Mourinho posited there was “no emotion” in meeting his former club despite two previous defeats and the abuse received during...
When Manchester United host Chelsea on Sunday the visiting supporters will again throw shocking vitriol at their former manager but his endless digs do breed contemptA lot has clearly changed since the time, a decade ago now, when José Mourinho cited safety reasons in response to the question of why, after leaving Chelsea, he had not been back to Stamford Bridge to say goodbye to the fans. Mourinho imagined a stampede of people flocking to his feet and his reply fitted in neatly with the impression of someone who would talk eloquently on any subject, as long as that subject was himself. “Just imagine if I did,” he said. “I would die in the crush out in the middle of...