Chelsea shut in on Champions League after Cucurella sinks Manchester United

In a cacophony of jubilant party, the sense of reduction within Stamford Bridge was once overwhelming.

Just as Chelsea feared their Champions League desires fading away, Marc Cucurella nodded the largest purpose in their season and a firecracker in west London ignited. So infectious was once the enjoyment that one house supporter even charged directly to the pitch sooner than the fit was once achieved. Call his solo pitch invasion interest or stupidity; it was once simply that more or less feeling.

For 71 mins Chelsea had toiled, suffering to have the ability previous a depressing Manchester United workforce that experience no longer gained within the Premier League for 8 fits. But then got here salvation: a luxurious Reece James pirouette, his gorgeous dinked ball to the a ways publish and a strong header from the floppy-haired Spaniard. Who wishes efficient attackers when full-backs can give such pleasant items?

With just a discuss with to Nottingham Forest final, Chelsea are assured to occupy a Champions League spot heading into the overall day. The struggle for Europe’s premier pageant goes to the cord.

“The win was very important,” mentioned Enzo Maresca. “I think tonight we struggled on the ball because we didn’t expect them to be so aggressive man to man. They surprised us a little bit with that. But we created enough chances to win. From the first to the second half, we deserved to win the game.”

So, the overriding certain: Chelsea’s top-five destiny stays of their palms with this victory matching that of an Aston Villa workforce who beat Spurs however have a a ways inferior purpose distinction.

The fear for a season-defining final-day fixture on the City Ground was once the just about whole absence of attacking spark on show.

Shorn of the suspended Nicolas Jackson for the rest of the marketing campaign, nor with any senior back-up striker are compatible and in a position for motion, Maresca was once pressured at hand a primary Premier League begin to Tyrique George. Leading the road, the 19-year-old controlled simply 14 touches all fit, failing to generate even a sniff of the United purpose, even if Maresca insisted he was once proud of George’s efficiency.

The closest {the teenager} got here, at the hour, was once when tumbling to the bottom beneath the power of the onrushing André Onana, prompting Chris Kavanagh to indicate to the spot. Onana was once aghast, the referee was once despatched to the display and justice prevailed when replays confirmed a transparent goalkeeper glove at the ball.

For all that they dictated huge swathes of the sport, the hosts hardly ever induced any elevation in Onana’s middle fee, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke desperately endeavouring – however now not managing – to create amid a being worried absence of efficiency in entrance of purpose. That Madueke did not double Chelsea’s lead, riding vast when despatched blank via with best Onana to overcome, spoke volumes.

Thankfully Chelsea may name upon their full-backs. James’s pinpoint pass for the purpose got here with out such a lot as a look as much as test the place the supply was once required, whilst Cucurella’s header was once unstoppable.

In truth, James had previous come closest of all of the Chelsea gamers to scoring within the first half of when he reduce throughout a bouncing ball from vary, fizzing the sweetest of moves with the out of doors of his boot in opposition to a United upright. “The Champions League is where the club belongs,” he mentioned. “Competing in the best competitions. People like to write us off and call us young, but it’s an experienced Manchester United team and we did what we needed to do.”

So what of United? An 18th league defeat of the season is their worst tally since 1973-74, they usually controlled only one shot on track all fit.

That statistic does now not come with the solitary time they did have the ball within the Chelsea web 16 mins in. The sport was once goalless at that time when Harry Maguire, exhibiting his newly evolved penchant for masquerading as a centre-forward, expertly became Bruno Fernandes’s inswinging pass goalwards. Replays confirmed his shoulder was once a few inches offside because the ball was once delivered.

Of route, United’s dreadful season rendered this fit little greater than a sideshow for them sooner than Wednesday’s Europa League last with Tottenham. Unlike Ange Postecoglou – who fielded a nearly totally second-string Spurs facet within the defeat at Villa – Ruben Amorim risked naming possibly the most powerful XI at his disposal right here in a transformation of tack from the defeat through West Ham final day trip.

“If I put some players out it would be 10 days without a game,” he defined. “I don’t like that. I think the best way to prepare for the final is just to compete. We are Manchester United so we need to compete in every game.”

They slightly did right here, however his gamers all departed Stamford Bridge with a blank invoice of well being, which is of a ways higher significance for now. Everything hinges on Wednesday.