Manchester United vs. Chelsea: Winners and Losers from Premier League
Manchester United and Chelsea played out a scoreless draw on Monday night in the Premier League at Old Trafford, a result that was not fully satisfactory to either side.
Following a loss to Stoke City last time out, United manager Louis van Gaal faced heavy pressure to produce a result in this match. His side started brightly but hit the woodwork twice in the first half and could not beat Thibaut Courtois after the break.
At the other end, United goalkeeper David De Gea made a string of top saves to secure a draw for the hosts.
The result left United winless in eight matches in all competitions. Van Gaal's men are now in sixth place, nine points behind Arsenal. Chelsea are 14th, three points above the relegation zone.
Here, Bleacher Report selects winners and losers from the match.
Winner: United's Improvement, But…
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Manchester United produced an improved performance compared to last time out, a loss at Stoke City. With manager Louis van Gaal reportedly under pressure, the hosts raced out of the gates and generated several good openings in the first half.
The shackles appeared to be off, at least in the first 45 minutes, as United attacked with verve. But at 90 minutes, the result was a scoreless draw and yet another match—this makes eight now in all competitions—without a win.
So, to summarize: An improved performance but not the preferred result. As 2015 ends and 2016 begins, United find themselves in sixth place, nine points behind new leaders Arsenal. Van Gaal might have done enough to save his job (for now), but further improvement is needed.
At the National, Richard Jolly wrote:
"If this was Louis van Gaal’s last stand, the scoreline lends itself to the suggestion that it was a fitting farewell.
He has become indelibly associated with 0-0 draws and this was Manchester United’s seventh of the season. Yet it was a stalemate with a difference, and not just because Chelsea were the opponents and Van Gaal’s old adversary Guus Hiddink was in the other dugout.
It was a goalless game where United nonetheless showed signs of life. If they had played with such verve more often, Van Gaal’s position would not be in peril. It was not enough to pronounce that a recovery is underway, but not was it a performance that will compel the board to wield the axe.
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In his post-match remarks, Van Gaal insisted he would not resign. Speaking to BT Sport (h/t BBC Sport), he said about the game: "Both teams had chances but I think we played better than them. We didn't have the luck we need to win these games. We have to keep focused on only football and try to win the games ahead."
Ahead is a Premier League home match against Swansea City on Jan. 2, followed by an FA Cup tie against Sheffield United a week later at Old Trafford.
A draw, coupled with an improved performance, was probably enough on this day, but United's board will expect the winning to return sooner than later.
Loser: Missed Opportunities
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Although the match finished without a goal, both teams had clear chances to score in the second half. And both came up blank after big misses.
Chelsea were first. In the 62nd minute, the visitors moved forward on a quick counter, with Pedro picking out Nemanja Matic in acres of space down the middle. Matic moved into the box for a one-on-one opportunity with David De Gea but failed to test the Manchester United goalkeeper, scooping a shot badly off target.
United then had a chance to win it in the 86th minute as substitute Cameron Borthwick-Jackson ran onto a pass down the left flank and drove a cross to the opposite post for Wayne Rooney. Six yards from goal, Rooney only had to hit the target, but he volleyed over when perhaps he should have opted for a header.
Considering the match ended in a draw, neither miss proved as damaging as it could have been. But both players will rue their wastefulness in front of goal.
Winner: Woodwork
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Manchester United's fast start could have—maybe should have—resulted in at least one goal. Instead, the woodwork conspired to keep the hosts out.
In the third minute, Juan Mata accepted a pass from Wayne Rooney and slammed a high shot past Thibaut Courtois and onto the crossbar. The Chelsea goalkeeper was beaten, but Mata couldn't sneak his shot in.
Another big chance followed in the 16th minute as Anthony Martial danced inside from the left before firing a low shot past Courtois at the near post. Again the Belgian was beaten, but the ball bounced off the base of the upright and away to safety.
With a bit more luck, United could have led by two goals within 16 minutes.
Winner: David De Gea
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For all of United's positive play, the hosts still needed goalkeeper David De Gea to bail them out on a few occasions. The Spanish stopper did so in some style.
His first big save came in just the fifth minute, when he parried a John Terry header over the bar following a corner.
That was good, but his double save at the start of the second half was better. First, he dived to his right to keep out Pedro's low drive. Then he regained his footing quickly and saved Cesar Azpilicueta's rebound as well.
Top saves from a top goalkeeper, and United needed all of them to secure a result.
Winner: Thibaut Courtois
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De Gea wasn't the only excellent goalkeeper in this match, and Thibaut Courtois proved it with a world-class save in the 56th minute.
United seemed destined to score as Anthony Martial worked to the line down the left and pulled back for Ander Herrera in the middle. Herrera redirected a bouncing effort on target, but Courtois shuffled across his line and pawed the ball away.
This was not merely a reaction save, though Courtois did show off brilliant reflexes. The Belgian goalkeeper had to do so many things right to pull off this stop, but his positioning and movement were top-notch. Then he made himself as big as possible and denied Herrera a goal.
