Jesse Lingard still has a vital role to play: Five things we learned from Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea
Jesse Lingard has more to offer and other things we learned from Manchester United's win over Chelsea at Old Trafford
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United recorded a vital 2-1 win over Premier League top-four rivals Chelsea at Old Trafford, opening up a six point gap on the Blues in fifth place.
Jose Mourinho‘s side fell behind in the first half courtesy of a Willian strike but they turned the game on its head thanks to goals from Romelu Lukaku and super-sub Jesse Lingard, who struck with 15 minutes remaining.
After a hugely important win, here are five things we learned:
The frost has come early
Weather forecasters have been predicting an arctic blast this week as the ‘Beast from the East’ arrives to send temperatures plunging, but there was already plenty of frost in the two dugouts at Old Trafford this afternoon.
There was much anticipation for the icy reception Jose Mourinho would give his Chelsea counterpart Antonio Conte before kick-off, and things started intriguingly as the Italian hung back in the tunnel like a plus-one at a birthday-do for their partner’s boss.
But the two shared an enforced handshake before proceedings got underway, and the frost seemed to thaw midway through the first half as Mourinho shared a joke with his Italian counterpart, leaving the mood appearing to be positively balmy. Who trusts weather forecasters anyway.
Willian, the one that got away?
Willian’s performance against Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie was exemplary and he carried his form to Old Trafford with another, outstanding display.
He began the counter-attacking move that led to Chelsea’s opener, playing a clever one-two with Eden Hazard, ghosting away from the oblivious Scott McTominay, before finishing the move off in some style, smashing the ball through David de Gea.
Having been linked heavily with United ever since Mourinho headed north, there may be some associated with the club who will think what might have been. Attacking players such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Alexis Sanchez and Anthony Martial have all arrived at Old Trafford but struggled to hit form under the Portuguese coach, and seeing Willian performing so effectively on their own turf will fill many with regret.
Top-eight Luk is in for Romelu
Romelu Lukaku has a had a very tough burden to bare this season. The goading from opposition supporters, pointing to the stat that he was yet to score against any top-six eight side in the Premier League this term, undoubtedly will have kept the man who earns £250,000-a-week awake at night.
Lukaku can now rest at ease. The Belgian forward has finally buried the hatchet with a well taken goal in the first half to draw United level. It was his first goal against his former employers, at the seventh time of asking. With hoodoos falling by the wayside left, right and centre, who knows, his new found confidence could one day lead him leapfrog Will Grigg. We wait with bated breath.
Jesse Lingard has more to give
While some of United’s forwards may lead supporters to pine for those on the opposition team sheet, Jesse Lingard continues to dig United out of trouble. A super-sub at Old Trafford today, Lingard drifted into the penalty area to nod home Lukaku’s pinpoint delivery.
The academy product has come into his own this season but for many they saw his mid-season splurge of goals as a temporary, passing phase. Indeed, after a succession of blanks following a run of six goals in nine, it seemed Lingard’s flame had been bright but brief.
But Lingard proved that he still has more to offer for Mourinho’s side with a crucial cameo contribution to help United take all three points.
United avert slip into the mire
United’s win has huge bearings on the battle for the top four. After a run of one win in their last four, suffering disappointing defeats to Huddersfield and Newcastle, as well as top four rivals Spurs, the Red Devil’s are back in the driving seat and have averted slipping into the mire of a top-four scramble for now.
Mourinho’s side are now six points clear of Chelsea and that gap could prove vital with time running out and tough fixtures to come. While United welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford in a couple of weeks’ time and travel across town to face the Pep Guardiola’s runaway league leaders, Chelsea still have to face City, Spurs and Liverpool. With ten games to go, so many big ties to come and a lot still to play for, you can certainly expect the top four battle to go down to the wire.
United though will be glad to have established some breathing space.
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