Chelsea vs Manchester United: Close but no cigar for Jose Mourinho , set-piece struggles and attacking woes
Chelsea 2-2 Manchester United: Ross Barkley's late goal denied United three points at Stamford Bridge
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United stopped Chelsea in their tracks but were denied all three points at Stamford Bridge by Ross Barkley's late goal.
Anthony Martial's two goals cancelled out Antonio Rudiger's first-half header from a corner, but Barkley struck late as tempers flared in the closing stages.
Maurizio Sarri's coaching staff celebrated Barkley's 96th minute strike in front of Jose Mourinho's dugout and ignited a touchline argument, although it was all handshakes at the end.
Here are five things we learned from Stamford Bridge
Close but no cigar for Jose Mourinho
If the Newcastle was a turning point in the season for Manchester United, then this was certainly a game with similar significance. Mourinho’s side had struggled against lower league opposition at the start of the season and the concern was that this would continue as they begin a run of tougher sides.
After going a goal down, Mourinho once again showed he can rally his side as they left Stamford Bridge with a point, and perhaps deserved all three.
The draw will certainly not ease all the board’s concerns, but it will certainly calm some of the nerves around United’s poor start to the season.
It was close but no cigar - though that could be enough for the time being.
Set-pieces are costing Manchester United
Rudiger’s header from Willian’s corner is the latest instalment in United’s tragic attempt to mark from set-pieces, especially in the big games. The Chelsea defender’s 21st minute header was the 20th goal United have conceded from a set-piece since Mourinho took over, which averages around one every four games.
There’s several people at fault for this. It stems from the board’s, and Mourinho’s, failure to invest in a central defender that is going to lead from the back, not allow others to relax when it comes to marking and take control in the penalty area.
There is also Paul Pogba, whose effort to follow the German was frankly far below what is expected of a Manchester United player. He made it very easy for the Chelsea player to get away from him and head past David De Gea.
Maurizio Sarri is no closer to solving his striker conundrum
While he has not been scoring often or taking too many shots, Olivier Giroud has been able to get the best out of Hazard in the final third, which made Sarri’s decision to hand Alvaro Morata a first league start since the beginning of September an odd one.
Morata’s movement failed to get the better of the United central defence and you feel that Giroud might have been the better option to exploit United’s vulnerability in the air.
The French forward came on with just over ten minutes to go as Chelsea chased an equalising goal, although you sense that this was about 78 minutes too late.
Nemanja Matic has had his day
He was once described as an “island of personality” by Mourinho and has been the anchor in several successful teams, but Nemanja Matic’s best days are well and truly behind him.
Early in the match Hazard drew him in and won a free kick for Chelsea in a very dangerous area on the edge of the box, but thankfully for United and Matic, Willian fired over. A matter of minutes later he fouled Hazard again and was shown a yellow card in the 12th minute, effectively taking him out of the game for the remaining 80 minutes.
Even without being booked, Matic has become unable to assert himself as a good enough defensive midfielder to justify his unimaginative passing when in possession.
United must stop being at their best with nothing to lose
This seems to be a reoccurring theme for Manchester United under Jose Mourinho. Against Manchester City last season they turned around a 2-0 deficit in the first half to win 3-2, just as they did last time out against Newcastle.
After being pinned back by Chelsea for 45 minutes, Mourinho released the shackles on his side and United were playing their best football of the match. Pogba was relieved of his defensive duties, began to express himself in midfield and created some really good chances. Juan Mata was released from marking Jorginho and Martial was given the freedom to drive forward with the ball.
Mourinho’s team were really enjoyable to watch in the second half, where they were playing their best football, which make you wonder why they don’t do it more often?
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