Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0: Eight things we learnt as Blues step closer to the Premier League title
Mourinho the master does it again while Van Gaal quickly finds out where Rooney plays best
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Your support makes all the difference.Master Mourinho
Another big game, another defensive job by the master, Jose Mourinho. Manchester United had 70 per cent possession, double the amount of shots to the home side but - bar the early Wayne Rooney strike and Radamel Falcao's shot against the post - didn't ever look like breaking the Blue wall down.
Chelsea are undefeated against all of their biggest rivals this season, and the must-not-lose mentality in these matches will eventually be what brings the Premier League trophy back to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea only had real chance and that's all they really needed. They remain the masters at grinding out results when it matters the most.
Single life
Chelsea winning by a single goal is the surest bet in football at the moment. Since putting five past Swansea on 17 January, Chelsea have played nine Premier League games, are undefeated, winning three of them by just a single goal. Holding on to a narrow lead may not have worked against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, but it is money in England's top flight.
Experienced touch
The 37-year-old has lost the explosive athleticism and he's no longer much of a goal threat, but he's turned into a wily pro who knows how to work a centre-back. Poor Paddy McNair has 18 years on the Ivorian and was able to match him yard for yard, but Drogba worked the teenager from the high ball, jostling him out of position and holding the ball up well for his team to relieve the pressure. He showed some nice touches to keep Chelsea moving and won free-kicks at important times.
El Tigre toothless
Radamel Falcao would appear one step closer to the exit door after another game in which he failed to make any mark. Even in his best days he was never the kind of striker to make other players look better with hold up play or silky skills - he was always an out and out poacher. But with that killer instinct gone, Falcao is a passenger. He had one real chance, but when through on goal from a tight angle he took the wrong option and went to the near side, hitting the post. He should have equalised.
Oscar performance
After a string of disappointing outfits from the midfielder (he hasn't scored a Premier League goal since 17 January), Oscar has been linked with a move away from Chelsea this summer. For the first 40 minutes he hadn't done anything to make those rumours go away - shunted out to the right and with the Blues playing a deep, defensive system Oscar barely had a touch. But he provided the moment of the first half when his brilliant back heel set Eden Hazard through on goal for the first half. Oscar stuck to his task well on the right but the flick was his own meaningful touch in an attacking sense. He'll need to do that kind of thing more often if he wants a future under Mourinho.
Impressive Ander
Michael Carrick has been one of United's best players this season and the news that the England midfielder would miss the game would have come as a huge blow to Louis van Gaal and his staff. Ander Herrera was asked to play the deep lying playmaker role at the Bridge and he was excellent. Not only was the Spaniard precise in possession, he was disciplined in his defensive duties providing a good screen in front of the back four. Should Carrick be out for any length of time then Van Gaal need not worry about his replacement - the other central midfield position is an area of concern, however.
Out of the danger zone
Wayne Rooney is definitely good enough on the ball to be a central midfielder full time, he has a wide range of passing and the energy and ferocity to match his opposite number. But as good as Rooney is, the England skipper is not going to hurt you when he's picking the ball up 50 yards from goal (even if he should have scored with that early strike) Carrick needs to return as quickly as possible.
Zouma wins heavyweight battle
Marouane Fellaini has dominated opponents in recent weeks, using his great height and strength to help United retain possession from the long ball and keep Van Gaal's team high up the pitch. Zouma, 20, was picked by Mourinho specifically to combat that threat and while he didn't win every single high ball against Fellaini, he won more than his share to throw that part of Van Gaal's plan out of sync. The two players were locked in a battle that looked like something out of a Sunday league fixture, as they wrestled each other to try and gain vital position under the clear west London sky - compelling stuff to see these two man mountains butt heads.
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