Louis van Gaal's gameplan to stifle the Premier League leaders was straight out of the playbook of his legendary predecessor and Manchester United competed on equal terms
All the pre-match talk inevitably centred around the reunion of Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, with Manchester United’s rebuilding and Chelsea’s unbeaten run taking inferior billing to only the second meeting of football’s most illustrious master and pupil.
In the event, however, it was Sir Alex Ferguson’s fingerprints that could most readily be seen on the battle that transpired at Old Trafford.
The key question was always going to be how Van Gaal chose to try to derail the Chelsea juggernaut. His answer was straight out of the classic Fergie playbook: force a breakneck tempo, make the match a physical confrontation in all areas and attack from the flanks. It worked.
Chelsea rose to the challenge but could not prevent their rhythm from being disrupted. Marouane Fellaini, detailed almost exclusively to snuff out Cesc Fabregas, produced the best performance of his short and troubled United career. Angel Di Maria, Juan Mata and Adnan Januzaj all menaced the visiting defence in the first half, while the mere sight of the Premier League leaders appeared to make Van Persie forget his confidence crisis.
The Dutchman forced Thibaut Courtois into action twice in the opening 45 minutes – one a fierce low shot from a tight angle, the other a brilliantly improvised back-header that reminded anyone who may have forgotten that he remains one of the most creative finishers in the business.
Weaknesses at the other end remain apparent. Marcos Rojo made a catalogue of mistakes and one suspects that only Van Gaal’s defensive system spared him further embarrassment, while Eden Hazard’s genius cut through the United defence like a knife whenever he felt the urge to take control of the match.
But David de Gea stood tall and, in every area, the home side competed on equal terms.
Chelsea enjoy daylight at the top of the Premier League for a reason and, from the moment that Didier Drogba headed them in front, it felt as if they would edge home. The Ivorian’s bullet header at the near post exposed the folly of deploying the combative but under-sized Rafael to mark him at set-pieces. It was also reminiscent of the most important goal that he scored in his first spell in a blue shirt at the Allianz Arena in May 2012.
The comparison was fitting on an afternoon when Drogba rolled back the years to produce an all-round performance of which many thought him no longer physically capable, winning aerial battles, bringing team-mates into play and threatening De Gea himself. Diego Costa was missed, but not as keenly as expected.
One goal ahead, Mourinho cashed in his chips, replacing Oscar with Jon Obi Mikel. Some might argue that, after repeatedly urging his developing team to “kill” opponents with the same efficiency as his first great Chelsea side, his own nerve failed. Perhaps, though, he simply sensed this United would not lie down and accept their fate.
This is Van Gaal’s biggest achievement since arriving at Old Trafford. A year ago Chelsea would have banked their three points in relative comfort but United kept coming.
Di Maria forced a clumsy challenge from the already-booked Branislav Ivanovic before delivering a perfect free kick onto the head of Fellaini and Van Persie smashed in the rebound with seconds left. It was a finale whose drama would have fit perfectly into the Ferguson era.
After the match Mourinho, quietly seething, insisted he was satisfied. “My team played a fantastic game,” he told Sky Sports. “We had good control of the game. We could’ve scored a couple more goals but I’m very happy with my players.”
So he should be. Chelsea return to London with a bitter taste but their unbeaten run still intact and can console themselves with the knowledge that their business in Manchester is done for the season. Their road to the title now rests on negotiating the less formidable obstacles that derailed them last term.
But Van Gaal is the big winner. A victory would have been a statement result but he has at least a statement performance. Matching Chelsea over 38 matches looks too tall a task this season but matching them over 96 tense minutes playing a style in keeping with the club’s greatest traditions will bring cheer to United fans everywhere.
No comments:
Post a Comment