The wait continues for a win at Old Trafford for Chelsea. It has now been nine years without success for the Blues at the home of Manchester United. And let’s not forget this is not Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. The current side especially is a poor imitation. Sure, they play in red and Cristiano Ronaldo wears the number seven shirt, but beyond that there’s not much to scare opponents.
And Thomas Tuchel’s team did not play with anxiety or concern in Manchester. For much of the contest, they bullied their illustrious hosts. Reece James chief executioner. N’Golo Kante chief executive. It all worked out pretty well, perhaps because ten of the players who started at Old Trafford started in last season’s Champions League final win over Man City. There was a familiarity in the field.
Yet the problem with the team last season was profligacy. Too often the Blues dominated games, created countless goalscoring chances, but lacked the required ruthlessness. Inexperience in attack was, on occasion, blamed. That’s why Chelsea came out and broke their transfer record to bring in what they thought was a surefire thing. The missing piece of the puzzle. Flattest of all tyrants.
READ MORE: What Antonio Rudiger did to Cristiano Ronaldo as Chelsea transfer priority clear vs Man Utd
Chelsea have paid £97.5million to bring Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge from Inter Milan. At Old Trafford, against the club that sent him to Italy in 2019, he was on the bench. And perhaps most damning of all, no one was surprised. The Belgian has started just one Premier League game in the last two months. He hasn’t scored in the top flight in 2022. It’s hard to see a way back for him.
The situation contrasts sharply with that of Ronaldo. He too returned from Serie A last summer. He, too, made a much-appreciated return home. Yet as the Portuguese managed to lead his side to victory – or as was the case tonight, a barely-deserved draw – Lukaku looked on.
The harsh reality is that Tuchel’s side function better without Lukaku in attack. This was evident in the first 45 minutes at Old Trafford, in which Chelsea were at their best and their worst. The football was fluid and the chances were created in abundance. Yet the clinical advantage the Blues lacked throughout the Tuchel era – and even under Frank Lampard – proved problematic.
David de Gea saved early from James, who was outstanding on the right flank, and was also worked on early by Timo Werner. N’Golo Kante was then turned down as Chelsea struggled against United and Cristiano Ronaldo, who sought the management of Ralf Rangnick. Little came.
Kai Havertz then began his personal battle with de Gea. The German was blasted through by a lavish pass from N’Golo Kante, unexpectedly invigorated but found the United goalkeeper in his way. It was a chance he should have scored – and Tuchel certainly thought so as he dangled on the sidelines with the Blues striker. Havertz was countered again soon after.
There were many who had an idea that Lukaku would start before the contest. The Belgian back at Manchester United, the story was there. The fact that Havertz was selected once again was another indication of Tuchel’s lack of faith in the man signed for almost £100m.
Unfortunately, Havertz didn’t quite prove why he was in the team and squandered another glorious chance after Chelsea broke three against two. The 22-year-old waited. And waited. And waited. Both Kante and Werner were on the assists but the German international made the wrong call, the ball was intercepted and Werner was left frustrated.
For the grand total of two minutes, it didn’t look like Chelsea’s waste would cost them. Just before the hour mark, a cross into United’s penalty area was misjudged by Havertz, whose attempted header bounced off his shoulder. Luckily he fell in Alonso’s way and the Spaniard sent a volley past Gea.
The Chelsea players celebrated passionately in the corner in front of the traveling support. Alonso shouted into the television camera aimed at him and James punched the badge on his chest. It was a reminder of the bond the winger shares with the Blues, the club he joined aged six, and why fans can rest easy amid reports Real Madrid will try to attract the academy graduate away from Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel’s side had United on the ropes, but with a punch the Reds pulled themselves back into the competition. Two-time Chelsea title-winner Nemanja Matic lifted a ball over the Blues back line and Ronaldo, played by Cesar Azpilicueta, fired his shot past Edouard Mendy.
It was a moment that summed up why Chelsea are not in the title hunt; Tuchel’s side have to be defensively perfect too often to secure victory. More is needed from those in the final third consistently, it cannot be left to centre-backs and full-backs to score key goals. James nearly did – he curled an agonizing left-footed effort against the post.
At the full-time whistle, Tuchel and his Chelsea players were frustrated. Ronaldo had foiled them with an instinctive, clinical finishing moment. If only Chelsea’s own superstar Ronaldo could have had a similar impact. Lukaku played the final stages but did not threaten. And it’s a story that has played out far too often this season.
–
