Review: Chelsea vs Man United Tactical mistake by Ten Hag and VAR decision 

Review: Chelsea vs Man United Tactical mistake by Ten Hag and VAR decision 

In a thrilling showdown between Chelsea and Manchester United, Cole Palmer emerged as the hero, securing an epic 4-3 victory for the Blues in the closing stages.

 

 

 

The match, filled with twists and turns, showcased the unpredictability of the Premier League season.

 

The excitement began early as Conor Gallagher opened the scoring for Chelsea in the 4th minute, setting the stage for a high-octane encounter.

 

Palmer extended Chelsea’s lead in the 19th minute from the penalty spot after Marc Cucurella was fouled by Antony.

 

However, Chelsea’s vulnerability at holding onto leads came to the forefront once again as defensive errors allowed Manchester United to stage a remarkable comeback.

 

Alejandro Garnacho capitalised on a mistake from Moises Caicedo to pull one back for United in the 34th minute, before Bruno Fernandes levelled the score with a free header just five minutes later.

 

Manchester United seized the lead for the first time through Garnacho, who completed his brace with a well-placed header off Antony’s sublime delivery, sending the away fans into jubilation.

 

Yet Chelsea refused to concede defeat and mounted a late surge.

 

 

In the eighth minute of added time, they were awarded a lifeline when Diogo Dalot fouled Noni Madueke in the box, resulting in another penalty for Chelsea.

 

Palmer calmly converted the spot-kick, displaying nerves of steel under pressure.

 

The drama didn’t end there, as Chelsea pressed forward relentlessly.

 

 

In a frantic sequence, Palmer completed his hat-trick with a curling effort that took a deflection off Scott McTominay, securing a sensational victory for Chelsea.

 

 

 

Player Ratings:

 

Chelsea: Petrovic (5), Gusto (6), Disasi (5), Badiashile (7), Cucurella (8), Caicedo (4), Enzo (7), Gallagher (7), Palmer (9), Jackson (6), Mudryk (7).

 

Substitutions: Sterling (6), Chukwuemeka (6), Gilchrist (6), Chalobah (6), Madueke (7).

 

Man United: Onana (5), Dalot (6), Varane (6), Maguire (6), Wan-Bissaka (6), Mainoo (5), Casemiro (6), Antony (8), Fernandes (7), Garnacho (8), Hojlund (5).

 

Substitutions: Evans (6), Rashford (5), Kambwala (5), McTominay (5), Mount (5).

 

Manchester United’s rollercoaster season took another turn with a thrilling but shaky 4-3 defeat to Chelsea. While the final score suggests an entertaining affair, the Red Devils’ performance exposed vulnerabilities in Erik ten Hag’s tactical setup. Here, we delve into two key decisions by the manager that arguably contributed to the loss.

 

 

1. Leaving The Flanks Exposed:

 

Ten Hag opted for a more attacking approach, deploying a narrower formation with wing-backs instructed to push high. This undoubtedly yielded some success, with Antony and Garnacho causing problems down the flanks. However, it left United vulnerable to Chelsea’s pacey wing-backs, Maso Gusto and Marc Cucurella. Time and again, Chelsea exploited the space behind United’s wing-backs, creating dangerous overloads and putting the Red Devils’ center-backs under immense pressure.

 

 

 

2. Lack of Midfield Control:

 

The midfield trio struggled to contain Chelsea’s creative hub of Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez. United’s midfield lacked a ball-winner, allowing Chelsea to dominate possession and dictate the tempo of the game. This constant pressure on the United backline eventually resulted in defensive lapses that Chelsea capitalized on.