Chelsea FC vs Manchester United: 5 Lessons Learnt

Chelsea FC

Credits: CFC Unofficial; Wikimedia Commons

Full time: Chelsea FC 1-0 Manchester United
Goals: Hazard (38 mins)

Chelsea FC consolidated their hold on the top of the league and took a commanding step towards bringing the Premier League title to Stamford Bridge with a brilliant conservative play based upon a classic Jose Mourinho counter attacking tactical setup.

Manchester United came to the Bridge in a brilliant vein of form where they were unbeaten in their last 6 league encounters while Chelsea were just getting past the line with one nil victories in their previous matches.

Jose as expected set his team up with Zouma and Matic in midfield to counter the threat of Fellani and deployed a defensive tactic which he does in every match with the big boys. Jose’s main target is not to lose the match and then try and knick it on the counter, and this match was an example of his supreme tactical acumen.

It was Game-Set-Match for Jose as his counter attacking manoeuvre worked in exactly the manner in which he wanted to. Zouma quelled the threat of Fellani and didn’t allow the Man United midfielder to run around in the penalty box where he thrives on crosses.

Eden Hazard makes the difference again as he has been doing so in the past months by being at his absolute and sublime best, feeding on a clever back heel pass by Oscar to put the ball home through the legs of De Gea.

With this crucial win at the Bridge, the Blues open a gap of 10 points between them and Man United. They need two more wins, which means, by the time Chelsea play Crystal Palace, they will be dawning the field at Selhurst Park as Champions.

Here are 5 lessons which were learnt from the game at Stamford Bridge.