MANCHESTER UNITED 2-1 CHELSEA: Ruben Amorim saw his side dig in to clinch a priceless victory in challenging conditions against Chelsea in a game that saw both teams reduced to 10 men
The swirling rain that fell relentlessly from foreboding skies over Old Trafford felt like an ominous portent for embattled Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim.
United’s early-season form has been as bleak as the filthy weather that provided a miserable backdrop to a game Amorim knew he could not afford to lose, after such a sluggish start. But with the pressure having built on the beleaguered United boss, his players dug deep for him to produce a vital win that could yet prove the catalyst to finally kickstart their campaign.
Amorim’s technical area may have been flooded by the persistent rain, but there were no slip-ups from the United boss, who can breathe a little easier after such a significant victory.
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On the eve of the game, Amorim said not even the Pope could make him change from his controversial 3-4-3 formation, but the United boss was surely praying for some divine intervention to help seal this triumph after Chelsea scored late on to ensure an anxious finale for the hosts.
Even when they lost their one-man advantage with the dismissal of goalscorer Casemiro in first-half added time and conceded with 10 minutes left, United’s players kept their heads, their discipline and ultimately hauled themselves over the winning line.
There were heroic displays from several players in sodden red shirts, including skipper Bruno Fernandes, who opened the scoring, and defenders Matthijs De Ligt and Luke Shaw, both of whom were found wanting in United’s meek 3-0 derby defeat a week ago, but redeemed themselves here.
This was the first of a three-game run, before the next international break, that would determine Amorim’s United fate, despite the club hierarchy letting it be known he retained their full backing. Yet had United lost this game to Enzo Maresca’s world champions, the pressure would have intensified on the 40-year-old Portuguese, ahead of next Saturday’s lunchtime trip to Brentford.
As United’s form has worsened, Amorim’s programme notes have become increasingly sparse, his pre-match message ahead of the Chelsea game amounting to just 125 words.
Despite such brevity, the pertinent message from Amorim, after such an underwhelming start to the new season, was nonetheless succinct: “Now is the time for action, not words.”
In the wake of their abject defeat at Manchester City, United chiefs were on a mission to spread the message that data proved the team were getting better under Amorim, not worse.
The United hierarchy were keen to point out Amorim’s side ranked first in the Premier League for total shots and touches in the opposing box, second for expected goals and open-play xG, fourth for shots on target and fifth for passes played into the box, all categories significantly up on last season.
Those figures may well be true, but unfortunately for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, the only stats that matter are results, which is why this – only a ninth win for Amorim from 32 Premier League games – was so important.
United began the game in 17th place in the table, a spot above the relegation zone but are now looking upwards, rather than over their shoulders at the teams and the danger lurking below them.
The hosts needed a break after such a wretched start to the season and it came after five minutes, with the dismissal of Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez for taking out Bryan Mbeumo. United’s one-man advantage allowed them to build a two-goal lead, but that came under threat with Casemiro’s red card and Trevor Chalobah’s late goal.
With Chelsea threatening to equalise, there was a palpable sense of collective relief among 70,000 United fans when substitute Matheus Cunha was brought down just outside the Chelsea penalty area in the penultimate minute of added time.
That allowed United’s bedraggled players to run down the clock and see out the game for a win that may yet turn out to be a crucial turning point in Amorim’s troubled reign.
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