MICHY BATSHUAYI was caught in the unmentionables by Harry Maguire. And Chelsea were caught out by Batshuayi’s unmentionable finishing.
Add in two more kicks in the balls from VAR – with a pair of disallowed goals – and it was a night of frustration bordering on despair for Blues’ boss Frank Lampard as Manchester United’s 2-0 triumph made it three wins in three clashes with his side this season.
Michy Batshuayi had most to rue on a night where Chelsea lost 2-0 despite starting strongly and having two goals disallowed by VARCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Mateo Kovacic dominated the first quarter of the match, driving forward from midfield with energy and skillCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Willy Caballero foiled Man Utd’s debutant sub Odion Ighalo, but there was little he could do to thwart the visitors’ two goalsCredit: Reuters
No player deserves to be judged purely on one game. But fourth-placed Chelsea, stylish if sometimes tame in build-up, were neutered by Batshuayi’s display up front.
Nonetheless, the lowest blow was Maguire – lucky to avoid a red card on video replays – thumping the second of United’s spectacular scoring headers, following Anthony Martial’s opener.
Injured Blues’ striker Tammy Abraham actually reinfored his breakthrough season by his absence as stand-in Batshuayi played as though his confidence has dropped as much as Maguire’s naughty stray boot did.
But with Mateo Kovacic fizzing forward with energy, quick feet and positive passing, Chelsea were clearly superior to a laboured United team in the opening half-hour.
And when Mason Mount was introduced early on, after N’Gole Kante went off injured, the Blues looked even more comfortable, albeit rarely offering the thrust of a true, top-drawer side.
Three times before the break Batshuayi wasted decent shooting chances.
Twice he under-hit drives to the far corner. But first and worst was a left-footer on the swivel, struck wide of the near post after Mount threaded the ball back invitingly.
The Belgian seemed to lack the poise, hunger and eye of an elite predator.
But when you have barely played for your parent club in two years, with three loan spells away, perhaps that is to be expected.
And a few of Batshuayi’s touches actually opened up neat link-play with his midfielders.
So much more, though, is needed from the sole frontman in a short-passing team.
There was little Chelsea could do about United’s shock opener just before the break, albeit from the visitors’ only first-half effort on target and first real spark of quality.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka conjured space from a tight spot on the right after twisting Willian both ways. And his curving cross was as sublime and precise as the glancing header Martial met it with for the breakthrough.
A goal from nothing but with class in everything about it.
Chelsea’s approach-work remained slicker than United’s after the interval but their grasp on proceedings was never the same.
Once more their play was pretty where it did not matter, and primitive where it did – in the final third.
Yet United scarcely deserved their second goal when Maguire darted across the box from a corner on 66 minutes to flash the ball into the bottom corner.
Reece James stormed forward as Chelsea began well against Man UtdCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Harry Maguire was the centre of controversy for Man Utd while Cesar Azpilicueta was ruled to have fouled for one of two Chelsea goals ruled out by VARCredit: Reuters
Either side of that killer strike, VAR erased goals from Chelsea subs Kurt Zouma, for a push by Cesar Azpilicueta, and Olivier Giroud, who was adjudged offside.
Predictably it was Batshuayi who made way for Giroud, whose sheer presence in the box offered more in 22 minutes than had the ex-Crystal Palace loanee in 68.
Lampard, though, should be equally worried by the way the Blues struggled to reassert themselves, the graft of a modest United side usurping the craft of a somewhat toothless Chelsea team.
Mount did drill a free-kick off the post, but by then the match had the same air of inevitability as did Batshuayi’s substitution.
One reason was the absence of winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, another was outstanding prospect Reece James never quite matching his brilliant start with more dynamic runs from right-back.
But a larger factor was Jorginho failing to dominate the midfield as anchorman in the manner the Blues probably needed.
Lmapard even got few answers over his goalkeeper dilemma, where Willy Caballero was often a helpless spectator, none more so than when two headers scorched past him – meaning the Argentine has now conceded four goals in two Premier League games after replacing Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Frank Lampard insists Hakim Ziyech will be Chelsea’s key to unlock tight defences and admits he can play him in two positions
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
