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Old 17-04-2017, 10:15 AM   #29
Andi Istiabudi
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Default Re: [EPL] Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea



OPINION: UNITED'S BEST DISPLAY OF THE SEASON
Report by Ryan Grant

It was an afternoon when everything went right for Manchester United.

Two goals, three points, and countless standout performances to boot. And all against league leaders Chelsea, a team who the Reds previously hadn't beaten in the top flight since 2012. Sunday's 2-0 win over the Blues at Old Trafford was significant for a number of reasons; ultimately, it has kept one door ajar and blown another wide open. It's a victory which leaves Jose Mourinho's men firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish, and the Premier League title race back in the balance.

Going into the game, a few eyebrows were raised at the sight of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's absence from the starting line-up. United's top scorer admitted to me in midweek that he'd felt tired during the Europa League draw against Anderlecht in Brussels, and was given a rest as a result. It meant Marcus Rashford had the responsibility of leading the line, as he did to good effect when the sides met at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup quarter-finals last month, and the youngster didn't disappoint here. Far from it.

There were just eight minutes on the clock when the striker fired beyond Asmir Begovic to put the Reds ahead and kick-start a party atmosphere that would last throughout the remainder of the 90 minutes. It was almost immediately clear that it was going to be our day.

Also named on the teamsheet was Ander Herrera, the man who was (perhaps harshly) sent off when receiving two yellow cards during that last visit to west London, and it was the Spaniard's superb pass that set Rashford away for the opener. Herrera's performance in particular was a microcosm of the team's as a whole - United's Man of the Match was hungry, energetic and, most importantly, clinical when it mattered. The Theatre of Dreams erupted as the midfielder added a second just four minutes into the second half, with a goal that enhanced his status as a fan favourite even further.

Make no mistake, though, this was a collective display. Marcos Rojo and Eric Bailly represented an impenetrable combination at the heart of the defence, with Marouane Fellaini and Paul Pogba outplaying Blues duo N'Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic in front of them. As Rashford put it after the game, it was a disciplined performance, one which didn't even allow for a shot on target from the visitors.

Goalscoring statistics are often used to highlight a side's strengths and weaknesses but, with this latest clean sheet, our defence has conceded just 24 goals since August, a number bettered only by Tottenham. Of course, draws have been the source of some frustration, but they have also contributed to what is now a 22-match unbeaten run, stretching back to our previous league meeting with Chelsea in October.

On social media, supporters described Sunday's win as a tactical masterclass from Mourinho, and rightly so. The Reds returned from Belgium in the early hours of Friday morning, but looked as fresh as ever, despite having played 52 games to Chelsea's 39 before kick-off. "It was about character; everything worked really well for us," the boss told MUTV, when asked how he motivated his side for the quick turnaround.

Yes, it's easy to get carried away in the aftermath of such an important win, but this was a showing that merited the praise, especially given our midweek endeavours. The Reds put four past Leicester on home soil back in September, and later Feyenoord and Fenerbahce, but this was a day when everything clicked against a team many expect will go on to claim the title, and a display that was a clear message to our Premier League rivals. Indeed, this was our best performance of the season so far, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

The views expressed in this article are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United.

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