Chelsea draw 0-0 with Manchester United in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge. A familiar result for Manchester United, drawing 0-0 against in their last 4 matches against ‘big six’ sides in the Premier League. Ultimately, it was a match where the defence was on top, with the lack of cutting edge from the attackers being the downfall.
Chelsea player ratings:
Edouard Mendy: Had a few shots straight at him which you would expect him to save. Seemed comfortable in a match where the attacks lacked that final edge. 7
Cesar Azpilicueta: Played the right of the back three and was solid throughout, rarely let Rashford or Shaw past him. 8
Andreas Christensen: A comfortable performance with little threat from United’s strikers. 6
Antonio Rudiger: Similar to Christensen, had a comfortable performance and dealt with United’s forwards well. Had a few flurries forward from the back in the first half. 6
Callum Hudson-Odoi (off 45′): Went off at half time with an apparent injury. Put in a wonderful ball which Giroud just missed but did not threat as much as he would’ve liked. Involved in a contentious hand ball decision. 5
Embed from Getty ImagesMateo Kovacic: Controlled the midfield well, looked for forward runs well and recycled the ball to keep United pushed back. 7
N’Golo Kante: Won the ball back numerous times for Chelsea. A typical N’Golo Kante performance where he never stopped running until the final whistle. 6
Ben Chilwell: Tuchel played him at wing back to give him the licence to attack but rarely threatened. Helped out defensively to see out the clean sheet. 6
Hakim Ziyech (off 78′): Missed the best change of the game by shooting straight at De Gea. Didn’t really impact the game that you would expect with the talent he possesses. 5
Embed from Getty ImagesMason Mount: Was his lively self throughout. Had the charging run form the halfway line which nearly ended in a goal. He will be disappointed with his delivery from corners. 6
Olivier Giroud (off 65′): Was marshalled well by Maguire and Lindelof by playing a high line which doesn’t suit his style. Was inches away from Hudson-Odoi’s cross. Overall, a victim of the lack of creativity from midfield. 5
Substitutes:
Reece James (on 45′): Put a number of delicious crosses that on another day would be converted. 7
Christian Pulisic (on 65′): Didn’t change the game like Tuchel would’ve hoped. 6
Timo Werner (on 78′): Like Pulisic, didn’t change the game. Would’ve had a tap in without Lindelöf’s miraculous clearance late on. 6
Manchester United player ratings:
David De Gea: Made a great save to deny Ziyech, albeit he should’ve scored. Likewise to Mendy, had a few shots straight at him that he would’ve expected to hold onto. 7
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: Calm throughout and didn’t let anyone past him. Didn’t offer much going forward would be the only disappointment. 7
Victor Lindelöf: A brilliant, glancing touch to deny Werner a certain tap in. Marshalled Giroud well and calmly brought the ball out from the back. Top defensive performance. 8
Harry Maguire: Looked composed throughout as Chelsea looked the more threatening going forward. As I said with Lindelof, marshalled Giroud well and commanded the box, getting his head to most crosses thrown at him. 7
Luke Shaw: Got forward occasionally and got a fantastic block in to deny Reece James in the second half. Another positive performance by Shaw that has typified his season. 7
Scott McTominay: Did not offer too much going forward apart from a counter attack at the end which he scuffed a ball in. Did contribute defensively in a closely fought midfield battle. 6
Fred: Got himself around, but misplaced many passes. Like McTominay, did not offer anything going forward apart from a few speculative shots. 6
Daniel James: Was lively down the right, and probably the best out of the United attackers. He was direct with his runs and put a few crosses in. He tracked back the runs of Chilwell too to nullify him. 6
Bruno Fernandes: For his high standards, this was a very poor performance. Many misplaced passes and appeared frustrated which typified a bad day at the office for Fernandes. 5
Marcus Rashford: Was annonymous throughout, didn’t really get on the ball to threaten the Chelsea defence. Had one free-kick smashed straight at Mendy early on. 5
Embed from Getty ImagesMason Greenwood (off 78′): Started in his preferred position at striker, but didn’t get much service. He tried fashioning a shot in the second half which he blazed over but had no clear cut chances created for him. 5
Substitutes:
Anthony Martial (on 78′): Didn’t have an impact. 5
Man of the match: Victor Lindelöf
I could’ve given man of the match to any of the defenders, but Lindelöf’s goal-saving clearance was a stand out. He was calm on the ball and rarely looked like letting Chelsea in.
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